WELCOME TO LORD GANESH !

Despite the fact that more than half of the population in India is living in poverty we Indians celebrate many festivals with lot of fanfare. 
We Indians have established our festive - loving image all over the world. People from other countries find it strange and blame Indians being insensitive.

But, personally I believe that festivals are necessary. Rich or poor, VIP and common man all celebrate festivals as per their capacities. Celebrating various festivals is a kind of recreation for Indians. Festivals bring in moments of happiness in distressed and dejected life of the common man.

These " CHOTI CHOTI KHUSHIYA" are necessary in life. DON'T YOU THINK SO ?

Apart from bringing happiness, celebration of every festival has some hidden scientific reasoning. Most of the festivals are celebrated considering environment, transitions in seasons and related health issues. The rituals performed during these festivals and offerings (different kinds of fruits, leaves and flowers etc.) used in these rituals give us some solutions or remedies to tackle health issues and bring us close to the nature.

Though in India festivals are celebrated through out the year but the main Festive season begins with "Shravan" which falls mostly in the month of "August -September".

In Maharashtra , the" MAHA _UTSAV - THE BIG FESTIVAL " of LORD GANESH which starts on "Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi" is the crown of all festivals.

Idol of GANESH is worshiped devoutly every where and offerings of different fruits, flowers and leaves of 21 herbs are made to "Buddhidayaka" , "Aarogyadayaka" and "Vigha harta and Dukha harak" LORD GANESH. Now the million dollar question is that why these selected 21 leaves only are offered to GANESH ?

Ayurved offers the explanation.

Actually, the time of Ganesh festival is the time of cusp of the rainy season and the autumn. During this time our digestive fire is at stake. Many of us are tend to get diseases related to Kapha and Pitta.

Cough, cold, throat infection, fever, breathing problems, bronchitis, dengue , malaria, swine flu, diarrhea, hyper acidity , skin infections are some common ailments found during this season.

Ayurved defines "Dukha or sorrow "as diseased state of human being. So one who is Dukhaharta must have tools to alleviate (dukha) diseases. The offerings made to LORD GANESH of these 21 varieties of leaves of plants along with recitation of specific mantra, have great medicinal values and have lot of importance in treating various diseases.

During this season these leaves are available in plenty. Wouldn't it be wise to collect these medicinal herbs- leaves, store them and keep them handy which will help to fight against various ailments.


A list of 21 varieties of leaves and a specific mantra associated with them is given below-

१) ॐ  सुमुखाय नमः। मालती पत्रं समर्पयामि  ।।

२) ॐ गणाधिपाय नमः। भृंगराज पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

३) ॐ उमापुत्राय नमः । बिल्व पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

४) ॐ गजाननाय नमः । दूर्वा पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

५) ॐ लम्बोदराय नमः । बदरी पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

६) ॐ हरसूनवे नमः।धत्तूर पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

७) ॐ गजकर्णाय नमः ।तुलसी पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

८) ॐ विकटाय नमः ।करवीर पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

९) ॐ वक्रतुण्डाय नमः । शमी पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१०) ॐ गुहाग्रजाय नमः।अपामार्ग पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

११) ॐ एकदंताय नमः । बृहती पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१२) ॐ कपिलाय नमः । अर्क पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१३) ॐ गजदन्ताय नमः । अर्जुन पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१४) ॐविघ्नराजाय नमः।विष्णूक्रान्त पत्रं समर्पयामि

१५) ॐ बटवे नमः । दाडिम पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१६) ॐ सुराग्रण्याय नमः। देवदारू पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१७) ॐभालचंद्राय नमः । मरू पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१८) ॐ हेरम्बाय नमः । अश्वत्थ पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

१९) ॐ चतुर्भूजाय नमः । जाती पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

२०) ॐ विनायकाय नमः । केतकी पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।

२१) ॐ सर्वेश्वराय नमः । अगस्ती पत्रं समर्पयामि ।।