Monday, September 3, 2012

Pradakshina in Temple


Pradakshina:

Pradakshina is a ritual of circumambulating a sacred object, be it a temple or deity or a sacred plant or a saint or a mountain or a cow or elders and one’s own parents. It is done always clockwise with the sacred object on the right side all the time. To circumambulate a sacred object is considered auspicious in Hindu traditions. It is said to bestow upon a person who goes around health and prosperity while removing all kinds of worries. 

Cultural Beliefs:

There is a popular legend about the importance of pradakshina. The story of Lord Ganesha who circumambulates around his parents reveals from the Hindu scriptures that circumambulating around the parents is accorded a higher status than circumambulating the entire universe.
It is performed by circumambulating around a sacred person, sacred image, a sacred object or a temple in a clockwise direction. It identifies four key elements such as destination, movement, magnitude and motivation.
The movement here encompasses an object: a temple, a holy site, a sacred mountain, a lake, a river, a city, and even includes circling around oneself. It has several meanings such as honoring, centering, bonding, setting apart, and reaffirmation of the sacred territorial claim. It also symbolizes the completeness yet continuity, fulfillment and quest, contentment and pursuit, comprehension and mystery.
The Hindu temples are designed in such a way with passageways to facilitate the circumambulation.It takes the worshipper from the doorway of the sanctuary, housing the image of symbol of the Deity, around the sanctuary in a clockwise direction where further icons introduce other aspects of the divine. 


Types of Pradakshina:
While walking is the most common offering of Pradakshina, some devotees roll as well. Extreme vows of Pradakshina involve self-humiliation in temples by rolling over the temple trash and in wet clothes.
Who cannot walk around the temple (for some problems, crowds or other reasons) often perform "auto-pradakshina" by going around themselves -- this is like glorifying the God within oneself. 
  • Atma Pradakshina:Atma is felt to be inside the body, this would mean that he has made one Pradakshina around his own Self.
  • Giri valam: circling the hill.
  • Adi pradikshana: take short steps, with the heel of one foot being placed where the tips of the toes of the other foot.
  • Anga pradikshina: This will be done in the temples' prahara with wet body and cloths after bathing in the temple pond or well. Lie prostrate, and then roll around the temple, chanting the Lord’s name. It is a prayer which has good effect in many cases.
  • Walking on knees
  • Pradkshina around trees like peepal & Tulsi plant
Many people take vows to perform pradakshina rounds if their requests for divine help at the time of need are met. So it is common to see Hindus perform 10, 108, or 1000 rounds after a successful surgery, after a wedding or after the birth of a male child.

How to perform pradakshina?
As pradakshina is meant for mental peace it has to be done most reverently. The Amsumathi-aagama further spells out the following.

Padaath padaanuramga chheth karouchala uivarffithou
Sthuthirvaachihpdi dhyaanam chathurangam pradakshinam

Meaning: Four rules are to be observed while doing pradakshina it has to be done slowly by small paces and not hurriedly. With folded or stationary position of hands, by chanting mantras of deity visualizing the presiding deity seated in the heart of the worshipper.

 If one does pradakshina at regular intervals and daily, it results in changing the disturbed poise of the mind of the worshipper taking it to deeper contemplations of the ultimate truth. During pradakshina one forgets one's own body and mind. The worshipper will be chanting hymns and perceiving the deity with total surrender.


Number of Pradakshinas:
For each deity, the minimum number of Pradakshinas to be done is specified.
  1. Ganesh: 1
  2. Shiva: 2
  3. Vishnu: 3
  4. Ayyappa: 4
  5. Subrahmanya (Karthikeya): 5  Durga: 6
  6. Peepal Tree: 7

Doing Pradakshina 21 times to any deity is sanctified.

Mantra when doing pradakshina:
"Yaani kaani cha paapaani Janmaantara krtaani cha Taani taani
vinashyanti Pradakshina pade pade."

Meaning: All the sins committed by an individual from innumerable past births are destroyed by each step taken whilst doing pradakshina.

Scientific Reasons:

  • There are three layers when you go inside a temple according to the temple architecture. The first layer is herbal gardens, full of trees and plants. The direction in which the tree is to be planted comes under temple architecture. All plantations are done according to the directions and windflow. There are medicinal herbs, flowers and trees in this outer layer and whenyou pass through this layer, you breathe in those herbal fragrances that cure emotional and physical problems, and body imbalances. It used to be around one kilometer longand while passing through it, your whole body circulation is improved. Essentialfragrances and oils needed by the body are absorbed especially those of the Ashvat (peepal) tree. It is the onlytree which emits oxygen all the 24 hours. All other trees emit oxygen half thetime and carbon dioxide rest of the time. The tree helps a person to overcome many problems, especially infertility.
  • ‘Pradakshina’ is not done for the sake of the divine or some otherpurpose but for health benefits.Then there is a second circle in which statues of many menand women are kept. One was asked, in earlier days, to sit and meditate there for a while.This way first circle makes you physically fit, vatta-pitta-kapha balances happens by inhalingthe air. The second circle frees your mind from all fantasies. Then finally youmove on to central part - ‘sanctum sanctorum’ - where you sit with your eyesclosed and experience the nothingness.
  • While performing Pradhakshina the mind gets purified and the devotee gets the divine aura that surrounds the deity. Pradakshina signifies that all human activities revovlve around God being at the centre.
  • When we encircle the idol we symbolically absorb all the energies emanating from the lord.... all around
  • Everything under the sky is subject to rotation and revolution and the soul value of a planet and human is equal and same. Thence, this revolution is translated into Indian languages as 'pradakshina' - i.e., keeping the relationship. In temples also, to keep the relationship for our revolution of life, we entrust the God to be the center.
  • The concept of temple is that of the solar system.Like planets benefit energy from sun by moving in clockwise direction to our right around the profound energy source Sun - the devotee walks around the idol for obtaining the energy.
  •  The concept of mammoth solar system is reflected in micro level molecular system where electrons revolve around the nucleus.

Interesting Facts:
Pradakshina is always done only in a clockwise manner the reason behind this is that the Lord is always on our right. In India the right side symbolizes auspiciousness. So as we circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind ourselves to lead an auspicious life of righteousness, with the Lord who is the indispensable source of help and strength, as our guide - the "right hand".

Indian scriptures enjoin - matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, and acharyadevo bhava. May you consider your parents and teachers as you would the Lord. With this in mind we also do pradakshina around our parents and divine personages.

After the completion of traditional worship (puja), we customarily do pradakshina around ourselves. In this way we recognize and remember the supreme divinity within us, which alone is idolized in the form of the Lord that we worship outside.

In Shiva temples, the devotees start the Pradakshina as usual from the front and go clockwise till they reach the gomukhi (the outlet for abhisheka water) from the Sanctum Sanctorum. As usual the clockwise perambulation is maintained outside of the Bali stones. The outlet for the ritual ablution offered on the Shiva Linga with water, milk, curd, coconut water, ghee, ashes (bhasma)etc. is not to be crossed. So the worshippers have to return in anti-clockwise direction till they reach the other side of the drainage outlet to complete the circle. During this anti-clockwise perambulation, the devotee should tread a path inside of the Bali stones. The Bali stones are always to be kept the right side of the devotees. After reaching the drainage outlet, they have to return to the front in the clockwise direction keeping the path outside the Bali stones. Thus one Pradakshina is completed. If you don’t find a bali stone it doesn't matter, make sure you don’t cross gomukhi.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Seeing the palms

Seeing palms
We have to rub our palms, warm up eyes and then open our eyes slowly when we wake up in the morning. If you are for money, look at the fingertips, if you want knowledge look at middle of the palm, and so on. And it also has a test, to confirm the percentage of result that you are going to achieve. That is by looking at the merging of Line of Heart of both palms and how best have they met with each other at the joining of both hands. We use hands are for washing, cooking, to carry weights and other type of work or to enjoy the joy. Hence, the hand is a material to solve difficulties in the past, and help the present and future. So, we see the palm in the morning as soon as one awakes.


Cultural Beliefs:
When you walk up in the morning, as the first thing, keep both hand together (both palms opened so you can see the lines and together as if holding palm full of water) with edges of hands touching each other, and have a look at various locations in the palm to receive the result . On seeing this regularly all the inauspicious and evil signs are transformed into auspicious signs and we can even manage to escape from misfortune. Palmistry and astrology are sciences, which are interdependent on each other. Palmistry has some merit, which are relatively more helpful in prophesizing and predicting the future. No two people in this world can have similar palm prints. The palmistry is the exact birth chart of any man, which is never incorrect and false. 

Significance:
We can understand life through palmistry that is the reason why it is considered divine and our scholars have said that one should see his hand immediately when he gets up in the morning. You may also learn this protection mantra that belongs to this simple but effective morning ritual

Mantra: While Getting up from bed

KARAAGRE VASATE LAXMI, KARMADHYE SARASWATI
KARMOOLE STITHO BRAHMA, PRABHATE KARDARSHAMAM ||

Meaning: Lakshmi (Goddess of Money) resides at the tip of the finger, at middle of the palm is Saraswathi (Goddess of Knowledge), at the bracelets resides Brahma (Lord of the Universe) so it’s better to have a look at the palm as the first thing in the morning. Like a lucky charm. 

How to perform:
Observe the lines in the palms of your hands. Rub the fingertips with your thumbs in a circular soothing rhythm (right clockwise circles, left anticlockwise circles). With the fingertips rub the palms. Then turn the right wrist clockwise and the left wrist anticlockwise. First kiss the palm of that side of your body where the flow of breath is stronger, then kiss the other palm. (Kissing confers energy. By kissing your palm, you give your best vibrations to your most effective tool for self-expression.) Rub both hands together and move the palms slowly over your face, covering head, shoulders, arms, and legs, creating an energy shield which wards off negative influences for the whole of the day. Sit silently with an empty mind for a few moments.


Scientific Reasons:

1)Observe each word in the sloka, "ka" is prominent. The word "ka" is very important.To pronounce "ka" uvula is used. The word "rA" is pronounced using the tip of the tongue touching the upper lingua. Once again in "grE" uvula is used. In total to pronounce "KarAgrE" around 3 suborgans of our mouth is used. On similar lines if you observe in chanting the whole sloka all parts of the mouth involved in vocal(production of sound) are used. This is like a warm up to your vocal parts as they had went to rest during sleep.

2)Eyes have two types of photoreceptors ie Rods and Cones. Rods detect the light whereas cones distinguish the colors - red, blue and green. Cones are non-functional in the dark and hence in the night if we are in sudden dark our eyes strain out and even same when we are out of sudden dark. This is because it takes a fraction of minute for the cones to become active. Similarly when we are asleep these photoreceptors are in a rested state, if we suddenly open eyes they will be strained out. sight defect was prominent for middle and old aged people(which was a gradual loss of function) but now a days we can observe even small kids have a high sightedness defects. This happens because kids are stressed more now a days and eyes are not cared properly. One step of care to protect eye is to rub our palms and warm up our eyes when we get up (not only in the morning) from sleep. This activity makes our eyes warm, so that this heat activates the photoreceptors present in eyes. Changes in the eye health can be observed by practicing this activity for at least 3 months.

Interesting Facts:
There is no match to the knowledge of palmistry in the 3 worlds. It is mentioned that the structure of the human body itself is the structure of the entire universe. In the same way as there are changes and transformations taking place because of planets in the universe, there are also changes in the body because of the effect of planets.

Nitya Karmas of a householder


Nitya Karma:
The scriptures have explained some compulsory duties, which must be performed. Each GRIHASTHA (a householder) should perform this NITYA KARMA. According to the rules given in the scriptures, only after that he is fit to be called a SHAT-KARMA ADHIKAARI (or performer of six duties.)

Duties before having bath: There are Six Karmas in the NITYA KARMA

Mantra:
SANDHYAA SNAANAM JAPASHCHAIVA DEVATAANAAM CHA POOJANAM
VAISHVADEVAM TATHATITHYAM SHAT KARMAANI DINE DINE

Meaning:A man should take bath SNAAN, perform SANDHYAA (worship in the evening), Japa (Chanting of Mantras) Devapoojan (Worship of Deities), BALIVAISHVADEVA (repenting atonement for such petty sins which are committed daily and are unavoidable, like we kill infinite number of germs while cooking,walking,cleaning the house etc. There are six Karma to be performed daily.

A man must get up one and a half hour before Sun Rise. There are many disadvantages of not awaking in that time, described in the scriptures like

Mantra:
BRAAHME MUHURTE YAA NIDRAA SAA PUNYAKSHAYA KAARINEEM,
TAAM KAROTI DVIJO MOHAAT PAAD KRICCHREN SHUDHYATI.

Meaning: A sleep during the time of Brahm Muhurta destroys all the virtues, One who sleeps during this time commits a sin, which can be atoned (PRAYASCHIT) by performing PAADAKRICCHA (There is no need for atonement in the case of a sick man or a man who had been performing KEERTANA the previous night.)

As soon as one wakes up in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period, the first thing he must do is to watch the palms of Both his hands, and say the following SHLOKA.

Mantra:
KARAAGRE VASATE LAKSHAMIH KARMADHYA SARSWATI,
KARMOOLE STHITO BRAHMAA PRABHAATE KARDARSHANAM

 Meaning: Laxmi dwells in the foremost part of the palm, Saraswati in the middle part of the palm, At the Base of the palm resides Brahma, and One must see his palms everyday

By doing this act no matter how misfortunate a man is, his fortune will change for good because the palms where Laxmi, Saraswati and Brahma dwells, how can that man be unfortunate? According to Palmistry, great importance has been attributed to the Lines of the palm. The Palmist, not only give the details of Man's life from the time of his birth till his death, but he can also give details about his previous births and forthcoming births.

So seeing the palms of the hand in the morning not only begins a good day for us but also it turns the bad lines into good lines. Therefore one must say the given Shloka while seeing the palms.

After getting up from the Bed and before keeping your feet down on the Bhoomi (Mother Earth) one should do salutations to Bhoomi and also beg for pardon for the helplessness of putting your feet on her, by saying this shloka.

Mantra:
SAMUDRAVASANE DEVI PARVAT ASTANMANDALE,
VISHNU PATNI NAMASTUBHYAM PAAD SPARSHAM KSHAMASVAME

Meaning: Salutations to the wife of Lord Vishnu, Vasundhara (Earth), who’s Vastra (Apparels) are SAMUDRA (Oceans), and whose STANA (Breast) are the Mountains. Forgive me for the sin, by putting my feet upon you.

The Status of Mother Earth is higher than our own mother, who has given birth to us, because our Mothers look after our welfare till we are grown up i.e. (feeding, Sanitation etc.) but the Mother earth looks after us and care for us, since the time of birth, till we die by nourishing us with food, and accepting even our excrement. Even after being indebted to Mother, Earth, a man acts unfaithfully to her by causing numerous harms to her, like digging, filling the earth with waste products, felling trees etc. To make her sons happy and satisfied, Mother Earth accepts all the pains.

4.MANGAL DARSHANA (AUSPICIOUS SIGHT)
After the salutations to the Mother Earth sight of Chandana (Sandalwood) Sona (Gold), Shankh (Conch), Mridanga (a Rhythmic musical instrument), Darpana (Mirror), Mani (diamond) are considered Auspicious. After that one should make salutations to his GURU (Teacher, Mother-Father, elders) Agni (Fire) and the Sun (Surya).

One must daily prostrate before his parents GURU (TEACHER) and all the elders, because according to the VEDAS, Parents and Teachers have been compared with the Devta (Deities) like,MATRI DEVO BHAVAH, PITRA DEVO BHAVAH, AACHAARYA DEVO BHAVAH
(Mother, Father and Teacher are deities).

Mantra:
ABHIVAADAN SHEELASYA NITYAM VRIDDHO UPASEVINAH,
CHATVAARI TASYA VARADAHANTE AAYURVIDDYA YASHOBALAM

Meaning: One who is a prostrator by nature, and is always in the service of Old (VRIDDHA) (GYAANVRIDDHA (Senior on account of his knowledge), KARMAVRIDDHA- Being Senior on account of his Superior Actions).AVASTHAVRIDDHA (Senior on account of his Age) achieves four things AAYU (Long-Life) VIDDYA (Knowledge) YASHA (FAME) and BALA (Strength).
These four things have invaluable importance in the life of a Man. A person who possesses all these four things, does not lack anything in the life. Therefore a Man should try to practice Prostration. After the Prostration, it is necessary to purify our minds.

6.PURIFICATION OF MIND (MAANASIK SHUDDHI MANTRA)

Mantra:
OM APAVITRAH PAVITRO VAA SARVAAVASTHAAM GATOPIVAA,
YAH SMARET PUNDAREEKA AKSHAM SA VAAHYAA BHYANTARAH SHUCHIH       

ATINEEL GHANSHYAAMAM NALINAAYAT LOCHANAM
SMARAAMI PUNDAREEKAAKSHAM TEN SNAATO BHAVAAMYAHAM

One should sprinkle water on his body after saying these two Mantras. By doing this one purifies his body.Then one should remember the Almighty God by doing JAPA (Chanting of Mantras), Kirtan (devotional song) etc according to his liking.


Bhoomi Vandanam-Salutations to mother earth



Bhoomi Vandanam: 
It is Salutations to Mother Earth. Mother earth  rotates us around sun, giving us every morning and evening, giving birth and death,
giving rise and fall, giving knowledge and intellectuality, giving food and shelter, giving  good and bad. She is a living organism that nourishes and sustains us.

Cultural Beliefs:
In our Hindu culture, Mother Earth is looked upon as Goddess, and not merely one of the five elements of creation. Therefore, placing one’s feet on her is looked upon as an act of disrespect. In seeking  forgiveness from the Goddess, one acknowledges the divinity around. We have to transcend our debilitating ignorance, our destructive lifestyles, our cold selfishness, and transform ourselves into higher beings of Collective Consciousness.

Significance:
Mantra: when touching  the ground with the hand before keeping the first foot on the ground in the morning when we get up from the bed after the sleep.

samudravasane devi
parvatasthana mandale
vishnupatni namastubhym
padasparsam kshamasva me

Meaning:
It says, mother earth, you are with the rivers and mountains on you. Salutations to the wife of Vishnu deva. Forgive me for keeping my feet on you. The mother earth is the wife of the protector Vishnu. Earth is the mother who feeds all of us. The mother with the mountains and the river flowing from that mountain is the breast milk that is being fed to its kids. This sloka is a salutation and begging the forgiveness for stepping on her.

Scientific Reasons:
  • Sitting in the  same bed  where  you sleep everyday, without cleaning the  teeth-face-body,  mantra  is chanted, because  the body was  horizontal   for the whole night while  sleeping  and it is going to  become  vertical ( suddenly) when you get up. 
  • In  the  vertical position of the body  the   force  exerted by the heart  for pumping the blood is  more, hence  the change of position of the body  from horizontal to vertical level  should be  slow  and  steady. Hence  we are  instructed to  sit on the bed  for few seconds ( it has been   statistically estimated that  23% of the heart  attack deaths  take place  in the heart patients  when they suddenly get up  and stand/walk from the lying position ). 
  • Similarly  with  a mantra  we  touch the floor  samudra vasane devi parvatha sthana mandale Vishnu patnee namasthubhyam paada sparsam  kshamaswa me.   The bio static electricity in the body  gets earthed through the  fingers  instead of the  feet, reducing the  chance of  arthritis  and many other  nervous based  disorders.
  • We have bio-energy in us that supports our life, thinking and every other inner and outer activity. While sleeping, it has a calm working, and not much of energy is used. There is much energy around us; all in the form of subtle electromagnetic energy. Energies in the form of electromagnetic subtle particles settle around other energy and settle at peripherals.
  • At sleep one may have bad dreams and the other thought processes that also burn the bio-energy and thus disposes some electromagnetic energy around. These energies will settle around our AURA. Thus by the time we wake up in the morning, the AURA will have an energy cover, which is not useful for us. This bad energy needs to be disposed off.
  • Electric equipment has a plug with the earth-pin for the disposal of the extra-unwanted energy. The unwanted energy that is around our body will automatically get earthen as we step from bed. This happens through the leg in the first step itself.
Interesting Facts:
Most of the paralytic and heart attack happens during the time when one gets out of the bed during when the earthling happens through the leg. It is proved that energy transfer trough hand is safer than the legs. That could be the reason for the sapa / beating and asirvada / patting being given with hands only.Thus touching the ground for some time before the leg touch the ground is a good health practice in life.

Vinayaka Chaturthi


Vinayaka Chaturthi:
The occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. It is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada (August-September). Starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 19 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi.

Cultural Beliefs:
  • Lord Ganesha is believed to fulfill the wishes and dreams of all those who pray to him sincerely. He has long been associated with commerce and merchants pay homage to him every day. If an Indian business or bank fails, all the images of Ganesha in the offices will be turned upside down, signifying bad luck. In households, it's common for small offerings of money, flowers and food to be placed before the image of Ganesh. These tokens please him and He brings more prosperity, wealth and peace to the family.
  • In the rainy season i.e. in the month of sravanam and bhadrapadam, vinakaya chaturdi falls in the rainy season. In shukla paksha the moon will be small and not visible. If people see the moon then there is a belief that people of that place are sinners and rains are not proper.
  • Ganesha idols should be made only of clay. There are also references from puranas that ganapathi was created from turmeric.
  • There is also an old belief that man came from soil and goes to soil, so some people perform Ganesh chaturdi for 3 days in which they believe that day1 as birth (idol made from soil),day 2 as life(idol will be decorated and prayers are offered) and day 3 as death(immersion of idol). Depending upon people belief it will be celebrated for 3 or 6 or 9 or even 12 days.
  • On the vinkaya chavithi day if you look at the moon in the night the read or listen the theft of Syamantak Mani which is described in the Srimad Bhagawatham also recite this mantra to relieve from the effect of Chandra darshan

      Sinha prasenmavadheet sinho jambavataa hatah. 
      Sukumarak ma rodeestav hyesh syamantakah.

Secret behind Vinakaya Birth: 
Goddess parvathi created vinakaya idol of bathing powder and turmeric from her body (Nalugu Pindi). She gave a life made her loyal son and asked to guard outside while taking bath.Lord Shiva entered home and asked the strange boy to give way for him to enter house. Vinakaya strictly told not to enter the house. Lord Shiva became furious and ordered his army to kill him but they all failed. Then Lord Shiva thought of finding fight himself and killed Vinakaya by severing his head. Goddess parvathi came to know and she decides to destroy the creation then Lord Brahma pleased her.

Goddess parvati then gave two conditions that Vinakaya should be worshipped before the other gods and he should be given life. Lord Shiva then ordered his army to get the head of a creature who sleeps facing north. They returned with the head of an elephant. Shiva placed the head on to the body and gave life and declared him as his son and he will be called as Lord Ganesha(leader of all ganas).
  
Interesting Facts:
  • Ganeshini :Ganeshini is the feminine form of Lord Ganesha. In Tamil Nadu, Vigneshwari is considered as a Shaktiand called as” Sree Vanja Kalpalatha Maha Ganapathi. The form of this ganesha will be the same of the head of an elephant but the rest of the body will be in the form of a woman.The people troubled by disease, marriage, accidents should pray to this form of Ganapathi. Ganeshini is a mixture of Lord Shiva and the Goddess gives her more power.
  • Vidya Ganapathi:Vinayaka is also called as Vidya Ganapathi. Students will worship Lord Ganesha to excel in studies as he is the god for true knowledge. Also the entire life of a man is a continuous process of learning. Also the term vidyarthi (seeker of knowledge) tells he is the one who pursues knowledge.
  • Symbolically Indian map resembles ganesha face.
  • Steam cooked food is offered as Prasada to ganesha as these preparations are entirely made of steam. Rice flour, sesame seeds and jiggery are prepared as balls and cooked on steam.
  • Chandra Darshanam: In the month of Bhadrapada on the vinakaya chaturdi day, the sun and moon are in the angles to each other that the moon light will gall on the earth with negative charges so they will tell not to expose to moon light. So it is advised not to see the moon.

Symbolism of Ganesha:
  • Big Head: Think greatly
  • Large Stomach: represents his great capacity to digest all good and bad in life.
  • Short Legs: symbolize tolerance power.
  • Large Ears: imply listening devotees.
  • Small Eyes: imply having high concentration power.
  • Mouse as Vehicle: represents a deity of control over desires.
  • Large Forehead: develops great intelligence
  • One Tusk: retains good and throws away bad.
  • Long Trunk: represents high efficiency and adaptability.
  • Prasadam: You can achieve what you want.

Benefits:
This festival has got more importance from the point of science. For Ganesha Puja one should do the pooja with the leaves and flowers of twenty-one different plants, trees and shrubs called as “Ekavimshati Patra Puja”.These 21 leaves are having medicinal values.

Sno
Mantra
Patram(Leaf)
Scientific Name
Use
1
Sumukahaya Namah
Machee,Soochee
Imperata Cylindrica
Purifies the surroundings.
2
Ganaathipaaya namah
Brahati
Carissa Carandas
Boon to women in the post-delivery period.
3
Uma putraaya namah
Vilva
Aegel Marmelos
Removes the impurities and purifies water and all  areas which are congested like Garbhaalaya .Juice of these leaves if applied  to the body just before taking bath removes bad smellon the skin
4
Gajaananaaya Namah
Durvayugmam
Cynodon Dacry
cures many skin diseases and also staple food for cattle.
5
Harasoonave namah
Duttura
Stramonium
removes the poisonous effect of scorpion sting, dog bite, rat bite, centipede bite and gives immediate relief to the suffering person.
6
Lambodaraaya namah
Badari or jujube
Zizyphus jujuba
The leaves are good fodder for cows and make them yield more milk Songsters use these leaves for maintaining a clear melodious voice.
7
Guhaagrajaaya namah
Apaamaargapatram
Achyrantus Aspera
The juices of these leaves cure many poisonous bites and wounds. It is used in the preparation of Zambuk ointment.
8
Gajakarnaaya namah
Tulasi
Ocimum Sanctim
Purifies air,water, surroundings and protects our health.Mainly used in the Shiva puja and Vishnu Puja.People who eats these leaves daily can conquer passion.
9
Ekadantaaya namah
Chootapatram
Azadaracta indica
Used as festoons to decorate the houses at  festival times and auspicious functions. Throat related dieseases are cured.also the cuckoo's tone is  sweet due to the eating of the new-born mango leaves.
10
Vikataaya namah
Karaveera
Thevetia Nerifolium
karaveeradi Thailam from the leaves protects the hair from lice.The nuts  from this are poisonous.
11
Bhinnadantaaya namah
Vishnukraanta
Evolvulus Alsinoides
As per theTaitreya Upanishad this herb juice improves memorizing power.
12
Vatave namah
Daadimi(pomergranate)
Punica Granata
Leaves and nuts are used orally to cure dysentery and to  protects pregnant women from abortion.
13
Sarveswaraaya namah
Devadaaru
Cedrus Deodara
The smell of this will preventsmosquitoes and dangerous insects coming into the house.
14
Phalachndraaaya namah
Maruvaka
Origanum Vulgara
leaves retain the fragrance for many days even after becoming dry and  can cure diseases of the heart.
15
Herambaaya namah
Sindhuvaara
Vitex Nergunda
This is is used in the preparation of many medicines including antipoisonous drugs and the juice cleanses the eyes
16
Shoorpakarnaaya namah
Jaajee
Myristica Fragrams
This is used as a spice and cure indigestion
17
Suraagrajaya namah
Gandalee

used as a  external application in skin diseases.
18
Ibhavaktraaya namah
Shamee
Prosopis Spicigera
The juice of its leaves can  remove the hair.
19
Vinaayakaya namah
Aswatthapatram
Ficus Religioso
Its leaves are good food for goats and elephants. The bark is used in the preparation od many medicines.
20
Surasevitaaya namah
Arjuna
Morinda Tinctoria
Used in the medicines for heart diseases, wounds and septics. Arjunarishta, a fmaous tonic is prepared with these leaves.
21
Kapilaaya namah
Arkapatram
Calotrophis Procera
The leaves of this shrub yield contains a white milky juice which is a  medicine for the poison of scorpion,  rat etc.,Also cures wounds and ulcers on external application


All the above mentioned leaves will be available in Bhadrapaada ( August-September) and the proper time, to gather all these leaves and preserve them for medicines.
  
Scientific Reasons:
  • Ganesha idols made out of natural clay are worshiped with 21 herbs and leaves during the Ganesh Chaviti.  Water born diseases are generally spread during this season due to heavy rains and floods.
  •  After the Ganesha festival, the worshiped Ganesha idols along with pooja leaves (Pathra) are immersed (Nimajjana) in water (rivers/canals/lakes/sea). It is believed that these leaves when they are thrown in huge quantity into water, helps in purifying the water due to their medicinal properties.
  • Ganesha idols made of natural clay, when immersed in water; they get dissolved very easily in water and cleanse the water without causing pollution. This also develops immunity and resistance to fight with bacteria.
  • In Ayurvedha the steam cooked food will have natural curative properties. Jaggery is a remedy for various ailments, til seeds to purify the arteries help to improve the vision. So the food offerings to Ganesha have health giving properties and the items cooked in steam are easy to digest. In some of the Super Specialty Hospital, steam cooked idles are offered to heart patients after surgery.
  • Ganesha idols should be made only of clay as the pure spiritual particles of Ganesha will get attracted to towards an idol made of mud and can be immersed properly. Mud can be dissolved easily in water, forms a layer below and does not sink into earth for a long time and have a great effect on the health of living beings and environment. This represents the cycle of creation and dissolution in Nature.