Ganesha Chaurthi and Seeing Moon - A myth or reality?

Many of us, during our childhood, were told the Hindu Mythological story about Lord Ganesha and Moon, we were also told not to see the moon during Ganesha Chaturthi. It is said that whosoever sees moon on Shukla Chaturthi i.e Ganesh Chaturthi will be falsely accused/blamed. Keeping aside this Mythological Story about Lord Ganesha falling off and Chandra Dev (Moon) laughing at him, let us see what is this all about scientifically. 

Before understanding this, one should know that all beings including humans have positive energy and negative  energy within them. The one who nurtures a particular energy of his/her's - will lead their  life accordingly in the respective path. Based on this you can say that positive or negativity happenings in one's life is the effect of their own self. It is natural that all human beings are derived from nothing but darkness, we keep on adding to this by food (grown on earth - mud), surroundings, thoughts, influences, and upbringing. Our ancestors realized this thousands of years ago and found a way to put light into our body/soul by inventing Pranayama. Prana means light/light particle - Ayama means invoking. Hence Pranayama means invoking light. The light, also called as light particles are invoked from Cosmos. In particular one can say they are invoked from Sun who is the light provider to the entire earth. If practiced properly with the relevant techniques, these Prana Particles will become the guiding light energy for that person and will help him/her in showing the path of their life. Similarly the light energy of an individual will be simultaneously equal to the quantity of the light invoked. This light energy gives answers to lot of questions about self and life, it also helps the person to lead a good peaceful life by manifesting positivity in and around him/her. There are thousands of Pranayama methods invented, of which very few are practiced in today's world - indeed they serve the purpose too.  

Coming back to the topic. During the Shukla Chaturthi, which falls on the fourth day of new moon in the bhadrapada month of hindu calender, also called as Ganesha Chaturthi, the rays emitted by the moon will carry negative like prana particles. When a person sees the moon, these negative like prana particles enter the body through his/her eye. Once these particle enters the body the negative like situation, a false blame/accusation gets manifested in their life. Because of this particular reason our ancestors advised us against from seeing moon during Chaturthi Tithi - through a story about Ganesha and Moon. 

Upon knowing these facts you may have few questions. I will answer a few of the basic questions here :-

Q: Is the story about Ganesha falling off and the moon laughing at him a false story?

A: Our ancestors had a unique way of telling the facts to common people. Be it early Hindus, or ancient Egyptians or the old Chinese  - they have passed on tremendous knowledge to the next generations through symbols and through stories. As a symbol or as a story it is easy to remember the facts. However in this case the story passed on through generations, but not the fact behind it as the way it is.

Q: If I see Moon on Ganesha Chaturthi when will I have the effect mentioned above?
A: It varies from a person to person. Normally the manifestation happens in one moon cycle or 15 days. Moon passes on in two cycles each month called as New Moon or Amavasya and Full Moon or Poornima.



Q: The mythology also says if one listens or reads the story of Lord Krishna and Syamantaka Mani, the curse will be removed. Will this help?
A: As I mentioned earlier our ancestors passed on knowledge through stories, this is also part of the same story. Reading or Listening to that story will not help



Q: What if I see moon, say by mistake, can I nullify the after effects of seeing it? 
A: Yes. There is always a solution or an antidote to a problem. This has to done only by yourself. However one cannot learn this method in a day or two. But there is no harm in trying it!!

Q: Nowadays Ganesha Festival is celebrated for more than a day everywhere. Does it mean I should not see moon on all those days?
A: Shukla Chaturthi is on fourth day after New Moon (Amavasya) i.e on Ganesha Festival. Hence it is advised not see Moon only on that particular day.

Q: Do you mean to say that I should also avoid seeing the moon in images, internet or say even on TV?
A: The prana particles will come from the real moon not from the moon in your laptop or your TV. Hence no harm!!


I wish you and your family a very happy Ganesha Chaturthi. Hope you don't see the moon :)

However let me know if you see the moon on this day!!

P.S: To those who would call this whole stuff as another Indian superstition, you are free to call it so!! Free will is still honored :)

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It's my life!!

Office - home - office - home - office - home..... that's what I have done all along for quite some time, like any office going regular guy. The company where I work has a 6 days a week and Saturdays are FULL working days! So Sunday is all I have got for myself, which I have been spending for my spiritual practice for last 10 months except a month in between where I was running around for my younger Sis matrimonial engagement. To summarize Sundays are packed affairs for me – I constantly fight to get each of the 24 hrs in a day, yet unsatisfied. But what matters is the how’s the weekend!!

One fine night, I was enlightened by a thunderbolt . I realized that I have been making all to please others while I have not done enough for myself and my happiness, I had become kind of a  frog living in a well. Yes, a frog!!  A frog who had forgotten where it belongs to, a big world outside the well where it once lived before moving into the self-constructed well. The moment I realized this my life is all about doing the things which really make me happy – I have started doing them one by one. I cannot keep everyone happy always, but I do have a choices to keep myself happy. If I am not for myself then who will? This doesn't mean that I am having walk on a cake now. This was welcomed by raised eyebrows, silent frowns and of course 'who gives a damn' attitudes. I said one thing to myself “it's my life!!”

The first thing I did was buy myself an DSLR camera. My craze for cameras goes back to high school. I had purchased my first camera with my pocket money and funding from Mom at my 10^th Std. I had travelled to Bijapur with my friend Vijay Navadgi to buy myself one. In the year 1995, a Kodak Camera cost me 1000/-. I had kept this hidden from dad for almost a year – whenever he saw it at home I said it’s my friend’s! At times I used to take it out of town for photography, on family trips n picnics. Till date there are few snaps taken by me in this Kodak camera which are the best for my age taken at that time!!

My first encounter with an SLR was when I was studying my plus two in Dharwad, and to be honest I was mesmerized by its ability. But to arrange 16000/- by pocket money back then was  not small joke. I started an RD at a post office during my degree days in Bagalkot. Through this I saved close to 8000/- only to withdraw it for parties 18 months later!! So, an SLR went back on a priorities list behind car, own house and other small things. The first two were done along with some other things, but old friend of plus two class was somehow forgotten. On the same day of my enlightenment, I ran to few camera showrooms and bought an new “ Canon 1100D” and an 55-250 lens.

I am basically a guy whom you do like to go for a trip on weekend. At times I plan for a weekend trip – coz I am travelling freak and I drive nonstop for long lours, anytime of the day. Travelling and driving is my passion!! It was almost more than 9 months since I had gone out for a trip. Given the kind of 6 days a week working, trips do have less possibilities as you cannot travel too far. To start up we had planned to go to either H.D.Kote, Nagarhole forest, gopalaswamy hills or chickmagalur estate – thanks to my work timings I got free to start journey only after 8.00PM. Due to this, the rest all options got cancelled and we headed for a single day strolling at Mysore. My companions were my regular trips companion Vikram, Sanjeev, and Sandeep.

With a stop in between at a Maddur dhaba for dinner, we reached Mysore at 1.00AM. The next morning I chose to get up early and head for rounds near palace with my new camera, coz I have never taken mysore  pics in early morning sunlight. Got some good pics and made another photography addicted friend early morning.

By the time the clock hit 9.00 I had received several calls from friends and I straight away head to the lodge. After freshening up we left for Mylari restaurant. It is a very old restaurant in Mysore famous for Masala Dosa. I had heard a lot about Mylari hotel but never visited, but this time I was adamant that I will have my morning breakfast with Mylari dosa. Believe me guys, Mylari Masala dosa is THE BEST, never tasted like that in Bangalore still!!

Vikram wanted to go to Chamundi hill for devi darshan. We said “Chalo”. It was a very quick darshan by special entrance, got to have a good darshan of Chamundi Devi after a long time. However we spent more time outside the temple taking snaps. I got my best individual pic so far at the same place– it was a natural snap of Vikram. Have a look...

In the mean time I recalled Nanjangudu which I thought of visiting so many times but never had. Said so to my friends they said “Chalo”. So next stop was Nanjangud via Lalith Mahal. 

By the time we came out of Lalith Mahal compound  Vikram and Sanju were hungry – so I took them to my regular and my favourite, Siddharth Hotel (its the best veg hotel in Mysore). Post lunch the car headed to Nanjangud on a single highway – slowly on a hot afternoon. We reached Nanjangud at 3.15. Sanju suggested we enter temple only after 4.15. So, after parking the car in a cool place next to temple we dozed off for an hour. This nap was a boon for us – we entered the temple in completely fresh. Nanjangud Shiva temple is a unique in Karnataka, as there is no other temple built in such a way. We find many temples like this in tamil nadu. On the surroundings and interiors of temple we find lot of shiva carvings, with each one having its own depiction – a complete unique for Karnataka. By the time I had darshan and sat in temple I was totally calm and relaxed – I had a soothing effect in this place.   

En route to Mysore Vikram took over driving. It was first time he was driving my car in 4 years!! I was scary initially, but he took it off well. Just before you enter Mysore you will find a lake on left side. I found what I hadn’t seen in this trip so far. Immediately I asked vikram to pull over asap. And lo, I got these snaps, the best pics of nature ....

Once back in city, Sanju insisted we visit Shirdi Sai Baba temple, as this is a unique Sai Murti you can see. Sandeep joined us back at the temple. The uniqueness of this temple is , Shirdi Sai Baba’s idol which is made in black marble, contrary to the white marble carved Sai Baba which is practiced throughout the country. Also the posture Sai Baba sits here is again a different one, which you don’t see anywhere. After the visit I was wondering why the idol is in black granite. He called up a friend of his and found out that Sai baba had come in then Mysore Maharaja’s dream after his death and specifically instructed the maharaja to build a temple with his idol in black stone.

With one stop at Mysore palace we straightaway hit the highway back to Namma Bengaluru. The clock hit 12.20 AM when I parked the car in front of my home. An unplanned trip with no specific pre-planned structure went off well. The moment I laid my head on pillow after freshening up, there was a smile on my face!!

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