Why Do Temples Have Bells?

We all know that every Hindu temple is seen with a big bell at its entrance, which people ring before entering the inner sanctum where the main idol is placed. You will never find any Hindu temple without a bell. But, have you ever wondered why this bell is placed and what its significance is? Is it to wake up God or let him know that we have come? Or is it to seek permission from him to enter his zone? It can be neither of the two! God never sleeps; neither does he need to be told that we have come. Moreover, we don’t even need to seek permission as God is always welcoming. So then, what could be the reason?

It is believed that the sound of the bell keeps evil forces away. Its sound is considered as auspicious as it produces the sound of ‘Om’ – the universal name of God. This bell is not rung only when we enter the temple, but also during the aarti. During this ritual, the bell is accompanied by the auspicious sounds of conch and other instruments. These sounds help worshippers to concentrate in the aarti without being disturbed or distracted by irrelevant noises and happenings around. When rung in a rhythm, the bell’s sound helps the wandering and hyperactive mind of the devotees to focus solely on the deity and aarti. This ritual is generally performed during morning and evening in every temple. The bell’s significant sound spiritually boosts the devotee in the morning and relieves his stress in the evening. Moreover, the bell when rung before the aarti informs devotees to rush to perform the ritual at the temple. Even people, who are passing by the temple during that time, offer a slight bow and pranaam to the deity, irrespective of whether the deity is their Ishtadev or not.

If this reasoning seems to be too superstitious or irrelevant to you because you are a person who finds logic in everything you want to know, we also have scientific reasons for you to understand why the bell is a significant part of Hindu temples and prayers. Temple bells are not made of any metal whatsoever – they are made of a mixture of lead, copper, zinc, nickel, cadmium, manganese and chromium. These metals are scientifically mixed in specific proportions, in a way that when the bells are rung, they produce a distinct sound that creates unity of your left and right brain. These bells produce sharp and lasting sounds that echo for a minimum of seven seconds. These seven seconds of hum touch the seven healing centers or ‘chakras’ of your body, which results in emptying your brain of all thoughts and entering a sharp state of concentration. Thus, the bell works as a remedy for your wandering mind – to awake and prepare you for the prayer that profoundly connects you with God.

Whichever reasoning of the two you believe, you will definitely understand the significance of the bell in Hinduism. Equally important are the Pujas performed in Hindu culture. Whether it is a Puja related to the auspicious festivals we have throughout the year, or it is one related to solving your Kundli problems, or for a new personal or company event, performing rituals in the right way is very important to please deities and procure their blessings. This is where MakeMyPuja Pandits can help you with their experience, professionalism and devotion.

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Why Do We Perform Aarti?

Navratri is around the corner. Different people celebrate this festival with different purposes. Some see it as a time to enjoy playing the traditional ‘Garba’ all night long for 9 nights at a stretch, while others see it as a time to please and worship the Goddesses. And, when we think of worship, one thing that plays a very important part is the ‘Aarti’. During Navratri, you can also perform the Chandi Path at your home or office, which will help you obtain the grace of Maa Durga. You can be bestowed with happiness, peace of mind and success by performing the Chandi Path. MakeMyPuja Pandits will help you perform this ritual in the correct way to bring you the best outcomes.

Now, coming back to ‘Aarti’, it is a very important part of Hinduism. Whichever God one believes in – Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, Ambe Mata, Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, Hanuman or any other – they always perform the aarti while worshipping them. But, how many of us actually know the significance of Aarti or the reason why it is performed? Not many of us. But, we keep doing so because we are taught to worship our Gods that way. However, don’t you think you must understand the ritual before performing it so that you can perform it better and with even more faith? So, this blog will let you know why you must perform the ritual of Aarti.

What is Aarti?

The word ‘Aarti’ originates from the Sanskrit word ‘Aratika’ which means something that removes darkness. Aartis are performed by lighting wicks soaked in oil or ghee, thus eliminating darkness. It is generally comprised of 5 wicks, and at the end of the Aarti, camphor is also lighted. Sometimes or in some religious temples, the wicks are replaced entirely by camphor or dhoop, which are the fumes that come from burning coal. Apart from the platter of wicks, the Aarti has many other things included like flowers, peacock fan, bells and a small pot of water. As per the Bhagwat Gita, the Universe is made of five main elements – Sky (Akash), Wind (Vaayu), Fire (Agni), Water (Jal) and Earth (Prithvi). Each constituent in the Aarti thaali signifies one of these elements. The bells represent Akash, the peacock fan signifies Vaayu, the lighted wicks represent Agni, the small pot of water represents Jal, and the flowers signify Earth. Apart from lighting these wicks, the devotees also sing to appease the Gods. Aarti is a spiritual connection between a devotee and the Lord. The thaali with the lighted wicks is moved in a clockwise circular motion around the deity, making it seem like the light from the lamp that forms a celestial circle that binds together the devotee and the Lord. This ceremony is also said to be the smaller version of the Vedic fire ritual called Yagya.

However, the Aarti is not restricted to worshipping God alone. It is also performed to welcome guests at home, a new addition into the family, the holy rivers, and to new possessions that we buy like vehicles, machines, instruments, etc. This is a way to keep us reminded that the Creator is the center of all activities. Aarti is thus an offering the Supreme Creator, the Deity. The celebration of divine light brings with it purity, positivity, fragrance, love and devotion.

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How important is it to pray?

Every child is taught to make it a habit of praying to God before going to school every day; and this ultimately becomes a habit and we tend to pray even when we get to college and then business/job. However, not everyone carries on this habit as they grow older because they don’t realize the power and significance of prayers. It is also true that those who pray every day may not know what the need of prayer is too; it may have just become a habit of theirs, which is why they pray to God every morning.

If you too are finding the answer to what the need of prayer is or why we should pray to God, you are just at the right place. You may wonder at times that if God knows everything and if He is the ultimate controller, why should we pray to Him? You may also wonder if prayers are only a way to bribe God for one’s own selfish motive. It may be true, because in today’s world, we hardly find people praying selflessly or without a reason. Whenever we stand in front of God, we definitely have something to ask him for – job, promotion, exams, business, family, and loved ones.

However, in previous times, it wasn’t so. Earlier, people truly believed in God and worshipped him with utmost devotion. Prayers are the pathway to connect to God. ‘Prarthana’ is the Sanskrit word for prayer, which means to look for unity with God by expressing faith, love and devotion, and expressing gratitude for the wonderful gift of life that he has given us. Thus, prayers should be a medium to look for fellowship with God and being completely dedicated and devoted to him, without asking or demanding anything from him.

There are several ways of connecting with God like meditation, mantras and jaaps. Mantras are chants with magical powers that emit positive vibrations within us, while jaaps are continuous repetition of God’s name that helps us purify and control our mind. Vedas depict that people blended different sounds in their mantras to appeal divine beings on different events. This was done to rinse one’s wrong doings and to change the course of human lives. These sounds increase the speed of the heartbeat, respiration and mind; and also affect our emotions and lead us to positive energy within ourselves. These mantras and jaaps have proven to be effective remedies to calm our mind and soul in this world full of tensions and worries. Thus, this should be a regular practice followed by everyone.

The Hindu Puranas – Ramayana and Mahabharata – emphasize that God never neglects his true followers. So, be true at heart and be a good human who follows the dharma of mankind, and your prayers will be heard. Apart from praying and meditating for self control and peace, there are certain Pujas that are important to be performed to maintain sanctity and prosperity in different fields of life. And, in every such phase of life, you can find MakeMyPuja standing beside you to guide you with every type of Puja. It may be a new beginning of your home, car and business; or festival pujas like Diwali, Navratir, Shivratri and Janmashthami; or important days like birthday, marriage anniversary, mundan and namkaran.

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Significance Of Pitru Paksha

It is that time of the year when Hindus need to pay reverence to their forefathers. Pitru Paksha, beginning from 16^th September and going up to 1^st October this year, is the time when people perform death rites of their ancestors, known as Shraadh or Tarpan. This period of 15 days starts on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August-September) and ends on the new moon day.

Why the 15 days of Shraadh?

As per Hindu scriptures, it is believed that when the great warrior Karna died in the war of Mahabharata, he was taken to Heaven, where he was welcomed and was given gold and jewels to eat. This was because he was a man who had donated gold and jewels to the needy all his life. Surprised by this gesture, Karna asked Lord Indra how he could eat all this, upon which Lord Indra reminded him that in spite of donating all these jewels to the needy, he had forgotten to pay homage to his ancestors and offer them food. This was why he was being offered jewels to eat too. Karna realized his mistake and apologized to the Lord. Upon expressing regret, he was given a chance to return to Earth for 15 days, where he would worship his ancestors and offer them food. This period of 15 days is therefore signified as Pitru Paksha every year.

Why the Pitru Paksha?

It is believed that when someone from the oldest generation of a family dies, his soul heads towards the Pitrulok, which is a zone between the Earth and Heaven, ruled by Lord Yama. When someone from the next generation in the family dies, his soul takes up this place, and the souls of previous generations are departed to Heaven to reunite with God. Thus, Pitru Paksha involves worshipping three generations of ancestors. During Pitru Paksha, these souls are believed to leave the Pitrulok and reside in the homes of their descendants for a month. Therefore, people must worship and please their ancestors during this period.

What rituals are performed?

The son of the family is the main individual who is supposed to perform the rituals of Shraadh. He is supposed to take a purifying bath and wear a dhoti. All the rituals are performed in the presence and guidance of a professional Pandit, after which food is offered to the ancestors. It is believed that if a crow eats this food, the ritual is considered successful because crows are considered to be the form of ancestors in Hindu mythology. Apart from these rituals, it is also believed that no new task or undertaking should be performed during this 15 day period as it is considered inauspicious. So, if there is a new beginning that is coming up after Shraadh, and you are only waiting for the new moon to arrive, make sure you get in touch with MakeMyPuja Pujaris to help perform the most appropriate puja and bring a promising new beginning into your life.

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What Do The Different Body Parts Of Lord Ganesha Depict

Lord Ganesha, one of the most loved and worshipped Gods in Hinduism, is considered to be the God of wisdom, good luck, prosperity and new beginnings. MakeMyPuja Pujaris are well-versed with helping you perform the most appropriate Ganpati Puja that fulfills all the rituals without any compromise for any and every new beginning in your life.

Lord Ganesha touches the hearts of millions of Indians across the globe. He is the most adorable elephant-headed and pot-bellied God who is known to be the remover of obstacles. With this very unique combination of a human body with an elephant head, every part of his body has something to teach us. Oh yes, there are numerous things that you can learn from this powerful and wise Lord!

The elephant head

His head is a symbol of intelligence and enormous brain power. Thus, with his big head, he teaches to keep our morale high and think big and wise. It also symbolizes Gyan Shakti, thus representing wisdom and knowledge.

The big ears

Lord Ganesha listens to all that his devotees have to say to him with his big ears. He makes it a must to listen to every small thing that we have to say to him, thus teaching us to be a good listener and listen to every small detail that we may have heard.

The long trunk

Just like the trunk of an elephant can uproot a strong tree while also pick up a fine blade of grass, Lord Ganesha’s trunk depicts that utilizing wisdom can help in differentiating good from bad. Similarly, even we need to have the capability to recognize the good from the bad in everything that we experience in our life.

The huge belly

The huge belly of Lord Ganesha teaches us to peacefully and calmly digest all the good and bad in life. Every individual has to face something good, bad, ugly and evil. Every individual’s life is full of sorrow, happiness, pain and suffering. In every situation, you must be generous and accept whatever comes your way.

The tiny eyes

With every body part so big and huge; have you wondered why his eyes are so small? This is because Lord Ganesha wants to teach us that you must concentrate on what is important and rewarding than what is not. His eyes depict focus and concentration.

The mouse

Although the mouse is not the part of Lord Ganesha’s body, it is the mode of transport that he is always seen to be driving. Therefore, it is equally important. The mouse is shown as the desires that we all have in life. Desiring for something is good but only when in limit; over desire leads to misery and sorrow. Lord Ganesha rides on the mouse teaching us that we must ride our desires, not that our desires should ride us.

The modak

Modaks are not part of Lord Ganesha’s body but, they are the most favourite sweets relished by him. It is believed that making modaks on auspicious occasions is an invitation to Lord Ganesha because it was he who insisted his mother Goddess Parvati to make modaks for him using nectar. It is also believed that placing modaks near the throne of Lord Ganesha relieves us of bad luck and welcomes wealth and prosperity into our lives. No matter what you offer to Lord Ganesha, it is incomplete without modaks.

So now, whenever you worship Lord Ganesha, make sure to keep these qualities in mind and do ask him to instill these feelings of wisdom, knowledge, listening, differentiating good from bad, generosity, acceptance, concentration and the ability of controlling your desires within you. And yes, don’t forget to have modaks in your prasad list!

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Amazing Facts About Lord Ganesha That You May Not Know

A symbol of wisdom and luck, Lord Ganesha is one of the most worshipped Gods in Hinduism. The son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, with the face of an elephant and a huge pot-bellied body of a human, Lord Ganesha is regarded as the destroyer of obstacles. In fact, any festive occasion or new beginning for a Hindu almost always begins with worshipping Lord Ganesha. If you are opening a new office, or getting into a new home, or for any other new beginning that marks importance in your life, make sure to have a Ganpati Puja done by the most professional and experienced Pujaris at MakeMyPuja.

Moreover, it is the time of the year when everyone is celebrating the auspicious Ganesh festival with immense zeal and joy. As India celebrates this auspicious festival, let us take a look at some interesting yet lesser known facts about Lord Ganesha. We all know who Ganpati Bappa is and worship him with lots of love and faith but, how much do you know about him? Read on to find out!

How was Lord Ganesha born?

Goddess Parvati once went to visit her husband, Lord Shiva, who was deeply meditating. Since he did not want to be disturbed by any reason whatsoever, he had his head attendant, Nandi, to guard and keep away anyone who wanted to visit him. Nandi being very loyal to Lord Shiva did not even let Goddess Parvati meet him. This hurt her feelings and had her feeling very lonely, being ignored by her husband. So, she decided to have someone who would be by her side anytime she needed someone. This is why, there and then, she collected some dirt from her body and moulded the most handsome young boy she could imagine, and breathed life into him to be her beloved son. This is how Lord Ganesha was born!

Why does Lord Ganesha have a broken tusk?

Have you realized that Lord Ganesha ha one full and one broken tusk? And, do you why? This is another instance when Lord Shiva was meditating. This was when a family friend Parashurama had come to visit. Lord Ganesha who was guarding his father did not let him in. Parashurama lost his temper and threw an axe at Ganesha, which broke his tusk!

Why do we find the idol of Lord Ganesha at the entrance of every temple?

This is because it was a boon granted to him that he would be more revered and worshipped than his parents, and he would be the first God to be acknowledged when entering a temple.

What is the original colour of Lord Ganesha’s body?

According to Shiva Maha Puran, Lord Ganesha is actually green and red in colour.

Who began the system of Sarvajanik Ganesh celebration?

In 1893, it was revolutionary freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Lokmanya Tilak who prompted every Indian to come together to celebrate the festival of Lord Ganesha. The main aim behind this was to bring together the sects of Brahmins and non-Brahmins to instill the feeling of unity amongst every Indian so that they could stand united against the Britishers.

How many idols of Lord Ganesha are made and brought home every year?

He largest processions and worships seen are in Maharashtra, mainly Mumbai and Pune. Apart from them, the Pen district also has 500 workshops and 800 artisans who make more than 7 lakh idols every year! Last year, 10,000 idols were seen in the pandals of Mumbai alone. As per a survey, there were 1,80,650 idols brought home last year.

Amazing facts, isn’t it? So now, after knowing these facts, you will better worship Lord Ganesha for sure. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! Ganpati Bappa Morya!

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The History And Significance Of Ganesh Visarjan

‘Visarjan’ in Sanskrit means the act of respectfully requesting departure, generally related to a God or Goddess. Normally, when we hear this word, it is one particular ritual that comes to our mind, and that is ‘Ganesh Visarjan’. But, have you ever thought why the idol of Lord Ganesha is actually immersed in water, and what the significance of this ritual is?

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is one that is celebrated with utmost joy and zeal. This festival that holds a very special place in the hearts of Indians all around the world has its roots running deep in the Indian history. It was initially started by Chhatrapati Shivaji Rao to popularize local culture, which became a widely accepted festival in Maharashtra, and mainly Pune. It was then carried on by the Peshwa rulers with equal enthusiasm. However, with the fall of Peshwas, the glory of the festival started declining. It was then the great Indian nationalist and freedom fighter, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who popularized the festival as a ‘Sarvajanik’ affair! It was he who started the concept of the idol of Lord Ganesh being submerged into water with a great procession. He took this step with the thought that making this festival a ‘Sarvajanik’ one will bridge the gap between the Brahmins and other castes on the Indian society, and unite the entire nation. Inaugurated to create a sense of nationalism and togetherness among the Indians during the British rule, this festival has maintained great importance ever since.

However, today people have forgotten the real history, and perceive the festival and its rituals in their own ways. It is believed that the whole essence of this ritual is based on the philosophy that after the idol of Lord Ganesha is brought into the homes of people and worshipped for so many days, the power and energy of the deity rises to an immeasurable level, which only Mother Earth has the power to control. So, it is believed that immersing the idol in water helps Mother Earth calm its power and helps him return to his Heavenly abode.

Another supporting belief is that this practice helps in balancing the environment. Earlier when the ritual was begun, idols were made of old clay that was dug up from several water bodies. In the few days of the Ganesh festival, the idols are clad with kumkum and turmeric, flowers and leaves. So, when the idol is immersed in water, the clay goes back to where it came from, while the turmeric, flowers and leaves serve as food for the aquatic life residing in the water bodies.

However, today Ganesh idols are made of Plaster of Paris and toxic chemical paints, which not only remain undissolved in water but also prove to be harmful for the aquatic life. This has made such an ecologically well-thought festival a hazardous one! Nonetheless, there is a ray of hope that the emerging society that is environmentally aware will realize this concern and return to celebrating the festival in its true sense, to keep Mother Nature safe and protected.

So, this year celebrate an eco-friendly Ganesh festival with idols made of clay, and make sure to observe the right rituals of the event by hiring the Pujaris of MakeMyPuja to do the needful by carrying out the rituals in the right manner.

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Do You Know About The Incarnations And Names Of Lord Ganesha?

Lord Ganesha as we all know is the God of wisdom and the destroyer of pain. Ganesha is known by a number of names and is known to have multiple incarnations, each one having its own significance. What we all have seen is only one image of him with the ‘mushak’ as his vehicle and modaks and ladoos as the prasad. Every Yuga – Satyuga, Tretayuga and Dwaparyuga– has seen its own different incarnation of Lord Ganesha. We as devotees of this supreme power ought to know each one of this to understand the ultimate strength of Lord Ganesha. Let us learn about every individual incarnation and vaahan, and all the names of Lord Ganesha.

Incarnations and vaahans of Lord Ganesha

Satyuga

In the Satyuga, Lord Ganesha was born to sage Kashyab and wife Aditi, and was known as ‘Mahotkata’ or ‘Vakartunda’, which symbolized the destroyer of jealousy by killing two demon brothers – Narantak and Devantak. In this incarnation, he drove on a lion’s back.

Tretayuga

In Tretayuga, he was known as ‘Mayureshwara’ or ‘Vikanta’, and was born primarily to kill the demon of desire – Kamasura. In this incarnation, he is seen mounted on a peacock, which he gives away to his brother Kartik, who rides it as his vehicle thereon.

Dwaparyuga

The most common incarnation that we all know about was in the Dwaparyuga, when he was known as ‘Gajanana’ or ‘Ekdanta’. Here, he is seen in his most fierce self with red complexion, born to kill the demon Sindhura. This is the incarnation where he is seen to drive the vahana of the mouse.

Names of Lord Ganesha

According to the Ganesha Purana, Lord Ganesha has been given 108 names, depending on the various characteristics he possesses. However, out of these 108 names, there are 14 popular names he is known by across the country, namely –

·        Ekdanta, the one-tusked lord.

·        Lambodara, lord with huge-belly.

·        Gajanana, the elephant faced lord.

·        Vakratundya, the lord with curved trunk.

·        Vighananasaka, the destroyer of all obstacles and evils.

·        Vighanraja, the lord king of obstacles.

·        Bhalachandra, the lord who wears crescent moon on his head.

·        Gajakarna, the elephant-eared lord.

·        Vikata, the ferocious and dreadful God.

·        Dhumraketu, the lord of smoky colour.

·        Ganadhyakshya, the minister of Gana.

·        Sumukha, the graceful lord.

·        Kapila, God with tawny colour.

·        Ganadhipa, the protector of Gana.

Now, you know a lot about Lord Ganesha that you may have not known much about other than him being the divine god of wellness, knowledge, prosperity and unity, and riding a mushak, and loving modaks. So, whatever you call him – Gajanana, Ekdanta, Lambodara or by any other name – it’s the time when we all start worshipping him. It’s Ganesh Chaturthi on the 5^th of September this year. Make sure you perform the right rituals in your home while bringing in the idol of Lord Ganesha this Monday! Book the professional and experienced Pandits at MakeMyPuja so that you can have your puja done in the right manner, without compromising on the quality, while keeping it pocket-friendly.

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