Ganesha Visarjan: The Immersion Ceremony
6 September 2003 — Amritapuri
Amidst the rousing melodies of a nadaswaram and takil,
the Sri Ganesha Murthi which has received daily worship
in the Kalari for over a week was brought to the base
of the temple steps this evening. There the crowds
gathered for this final ceremony of the Ganesha Chaturthi
Festival to join in honor of the beloved Remover of
Obstacles, as the ashram pujaris offered fruits and
flowers, incense and the arati flame. Even Ram, the
ashram elephant who just 7 days earlier received our
worship as the embodiment of Ganesha, was on hand with
a trunkful of fresh green bamboo stalks.
 |
Many people made coin offerings to Ganesha
before waving a coconut around their head three
times and offering it at His feet, seeking His
blessings. After bhajans and arati were performed,
Sri Ganesha was carefully lifted onto his chariot.
With the musicians leading the way, He was taken
to Amma’s parents’ house, where they
reverently offered the arati flame as well. |
Ganesha was then led in a procession across
the ashram grounds, and out through the back
gate toward the ocean. There were many schoolchildren
on hand today as well, due to the holiday weekend,
and the innocence and enthusiasm of the bhajans
that they sang the entire way added greatly to
the celebratory spirit. Overflowing onto the
road that runs along the beach, hundreds of devotees
accompanied Ganesha, and the local residents
that live along the way all came out to receive
His darshan as He passed by. |
 |
 |
Finally, the procession arrived at the chosen
spot on the beach, and Ganesha was brought to
the tide’s edge. About 20 men joined in
and braved the waves, carrying Ganesha into the
Arabian Sea, where He was to become one with
Her. This immersion ceremony symbolises the form
(physical existence) returning to the Formless
(spiritual existence). Its purpose is to teach
that all forms of God, including human beings,
have both their beginning and end in the one
Formless Absolute. In this light, the worship
of God’s form actually serves as a bridge,
helping us to reach that state of Infinite Awareness.
Just as Ganesha today merged with Mother Ocean,
so too is our consciousness destined to merge
into the Ocean of Supreme Consciousness. |
This is why for Her devotees, Amma, being the embodiment
of this Supreme Consciousness, is naturally both our
beginning and our end.
Jai Sri Ganesha! Jai Amma!
|
Archives 
