The family sadhana for the final day of Pancha Ganapati is to bring forth love and harmony within all three worlds. Because of sadhanas well performed during the first four days, the family is now more open and aware of Ganesa’s grace, and their love for Him is overflowing. On this day the entire family experiences an outpouring of affection and tranquility from the great God Himself. His blessings fill the home and the hearts of everyone within it, inspiring them anew for the coming year. This exchange of affection between all members of the family and the Lord is invoked and perpetuated through the day by performing five special pujas. These five pujas to Pancha Ganapati (see sidebar below) solicit help from His devas in the home and establish the patterns for improvement in family life. The overflowing love that is felt today will inspire generosity in the year to come, bringing abundance and good fortune in return. All gifts received during the day are placed unopened before Pancha Ganapati.
The sadhana of day four is to draw forth the vibration of joy and harmony that comes from music, art, drama and the dance. Family, relatives and friends gather for satsanga to share and enjoy their artistic gifts. Children dance and sing. Poems are recited. Plays are presented. When the program is over, all sit together before Pancha Ganapati, Patron of the Arts and Guardian of Culture, discussing Hindu Dharma and making plans to bring more cultural refinements into each household. More gifts are placed before Lord Ganapati.
Self & Samadhi Audiobook
We continue to create a audio version of each book that Gurudeva authored, using his professionally cloned voice. The small book, Self & Samadhi, was the final one. It is now complete and available here. The Foreword and chapter titles are rendered in a different voice.
December 23, Red Nurturing Harmony Among Associates and the Public The family sadhana for the third day is to create a vibration of love and harmony among business associates, the casual merchant and the public at large. This is the day for presenting gifts to merchants and customers and honoring employers and employees with gifts and appreciation. An important effort on this day is the settling of all debts and disputes. Gifts received are placed unopened before the Deity.
Learn all about Lord Ganesha’s Holiday celebration here: panchaganapati.com
Please also enjoy this explanatory video from fellow Ganesha Bhaktars at the Shree Ghanapathy Temple in London:
The family sadhana for the second day of Pancha Ganapati is to create a vibration of love and harmony among neighbors, relatives and close friends and present them with heartfelt gifts. Members of the family offer apologies and clear up any misunderstandings that exist beyond the home, among friends and neighbors. Relatives and friends in far-off places are written to or called, forgiveness is sought, amends made and tensions released. Gifts received are placed unopened before Pancha Ganapati.
For the full history and details of how families celebrate this Hindu holiday, you can follow the QR code or go to: panchaganapati.com
It’s day one and we begin with nurturing harmony among family members, those closest to us. The family sadhana for the first day of Pancha Ganapati is to create a vibration of love and harmony among immediate family members. The day begins early, with the entire family working together to design and decorate the shrine with traditional symbols, rangoli, lamps and more. The color of the day is yellow. A grand puja is performed invoking the spirit of Pancha Ganapati in the home. The sadhana of the day begins with the family sitting together for the purpose of easing any strained relationships that have arisen during the year. They make amends one with another for misdeeds performed, insults given, mental pain and injuries caused and suffered. Once forgiveness is offered to all by one and all, they speak of one another’s good qualities and resolve that in the days ahead they will remember the futility of trying to change others and the practicality of changing oneself to be the silent example for all to witness. Gifts are then exchanged and placed unopened before Pancha Ganapati.
The Five Śaktis of Lord Gaṇeśa
A Reverent Doxology by a Śaiva Paramāchārya
Loving Ganesha! Dear to Siva’s men,
Within whose form the world of form resides,
Who earned the mango by a pond’rous ken
And made the moon to wax and wane in tides.
Aum Ganesha! Loved by saints and sages,
Whose skillful arms five potent shaktis wield
To guide men now as in forgotten ages—
The seeker’s shield, the farmer’s fertile field.
Aum! Ganesha’s first shakti is home life,
Protection, harmony, fertility—
Respect becomes the man, as love the wife,
Obedience their cherished offspring’s glee.
Aum! Ganesha’s second shakti’s family—
By blood, by marriage and proximity.
Word and thought controlled, like minds agree,
While faithful friends preserve community.
Aum! Ganesha’s third shakti’s the market,
Where commerce earns the earth stability,
Where forthright, selfless merchants, free from debt,
Conceive, produce, exchange prosperity.
Aum! Ganesha’s fourth shakti brings culture—
Refined expression, graceful artistry
In music, dance, in poetry and sculpture
Or common conduct performed consciously.
Aum! Ganesha’s fifth shakti is dharma—
Fair merit found in virtue’s charity—
Where love of God conquers ancient karma
And Siva’s slaves earn grace’s rarity.
Jaya Ganesha! Come, our hearts protect
From discord in the home, from strife with friend,
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami gives his weekly upadesha in Kadavul Temple at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery in Hawaii. It is part of a series of talks elaborating on the inspired teachings of Satguru Śivaya Subramuniyaswami as found in his book Merging With Śiva.
“The Hindu looks to the Gods for very practical assistance. He devoutly believes that the Gods from their dwelling in the Third World are capable of consciously working with the forces of evolution in the universe and they could then certainly manage a few simpler problems. He devoutly believes that the Gods are given to care for man on the planet and see him through his tenure on Earth, and that their decisions are vast in their implications. Their overview spans time itself, and yet their detailed focus upon the complicated fabric of human affairs is just as awesome.“
