Ganesha Homa

Ganesh Homa is a sacred Vedic fire ritual dedicated to Lord Ganesha, revered in the scriptures as Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, and worshipped first before every auspicious undertaking. According to the scriptures, the Chaturthi tithi, the fourth lunar day, belongs especially to Lord Ganesha, for it is said that he was born on the Shukla Chaturthi of the Bhadrapada month, celebrated across the land as Ganesh Chaturthi. Every month offers two of his sacred days, the Vinayaka Chaturthi of the waxing phase and the Sankashti Chaturthi of the waning phase, and when Sankashti falls on a Tuesday it is honoured as Angaraki Chaturthi, believed to be the most powerful of all. In the Navagraha tradition, Lord Ganesha is also revered as the adhi devata of Ketu, and it is said that his worship pacifies the sudden disruptions and confusion associated with this shadowy graha. For these reasons, the homa performed on a Chaturthi, and above all on Angaraki Chaturthi, is considered the most potent occasion to invoke his grace. The homa invokes Lord Ganesha through his beeja mantra, Om Gam Ganapataye Namah, along with the Ganapati Atharvashirsha and other sacred hymns, with aahutis of ghee, modaka, durva grass and prescribed herbs offered into the consecrated fire. It is believed that durva and modaka are especially dear to him, and that offerings made through the sacred fire reach him swiftly. When you participate with a sincere sankalpa in your name, gotra and nakshatra, it is said that Lord Ganesha clears every hindrance from your path and blesses your endeavours with success and joy.