Ganapati Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi
Immersion of the idols of Ganesh and a Vow Dedicated to Vishnu
Anant is the Hindi word for “without end” or "infinite." It is an epithet of Vishnu and represents the “infiniteness” of divinity.
In his manifestation as Anant, Vishnu is usually depicted on Sheshnag, the hundred headed king of the serpents, who forms the seat of Vishnu on the lake of milk known as Kshirsagar. Chaturdashi is the fourteenth day. Anant Chaturdashi is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first fortnight of the Hindu month of Bhadra.
The Anant Vow
The Anant Vow is a special ritual that has to be conducted for fourteen years. The purpose of this vow is to obtain prosperity. If it is discontinued before the completion of fourteen years then it spells disaster. Therefore, it should be undertaken only after due consideration.
The image of Sheshnag is made from sacred grass and worshiped in the traditional way. Incense sticks are burned. Milk and flowers are offered to Sheshnag, who represents Anant in this ritual. The aarti of Sheshnag is performed. A silk thread colored red with kumkum paste is the main component of the ritual. This thread is called Anant string and has fourteen knots, one for each year of the vow. The thread is placed before Sheshnag and then tied to the wrist. Women tie it on their left hands while males tie it on their right hands. Appropriate food is distributed to Brahmins after the ritual worship is performed.
Sushila and Kaundinya
The story of Sushila and Kaundinya is often narrated on Anant Chaturdashi day. Sushila and her husband Kaundinya were facing troubled times. One day, Sushila saw a group of women performing the Anant pooja. After fully understanding its implications she decided to take the Anant vow. Almost immediately, their life began to change for the better and soon they began to prosper.
One day Kaundinya noticed the Anant string on Sushila’s wrist. Sushila then told him the entire tale. Kaundinya believed that the prosperity he had achieved was due to his own hard work and astuteness and was not prepared to give any deity credit for it. He pulled of the Anant thread from Sushila’s wrist and burned it. Soon they lost all they had and became poor again. Kaundinya realized his foolishness and decided to atone for his sin.
Kaundinya wanted to fall at the feet of Anant. He enquired of everyone he met, including trees and beasts, but no one could direct him to Anant. Therefore, Kaundinya decided to end his life. Then a Brahmin, who was really Anant, appeared and led Kaundinya to a cave. There Anant assumed his true manifestation and gave darshan to Kaundinya. Kaundinya asked for forgiveness and promised to undertake the Anant vow.
Ganapati Visarjan
Visarjan means "immersion." On Anant Chaturdashi, the idols of Ganesh are immersed in a water body, thus ending the ten days of festivities, which began with the installation of the idol on Ganesh Chaturthi day. There is a belief among ardent devotees of Ganapati that a family or organization that once installs an idol has to continue the practice forever. Many devotees wear the Anant string during Visarjan day as a reminder of the promise that they will install Ganesh in their homes again next year.
Some devotees do not install Ganesh idols in their homes because they are unable to commit to continuing with this practice year in and year out. They visit public installations in order to express their faith. There are some devotees who are uncomfortable with the concept of immersion. They advocate that one should not remove an idol from the homes once it is installed. They have an idol of Ganapati permanently installed in their pooja room or at the entrance of their home and they worship that idol with special rituals on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Resources:
- Anant Chaturdashi. Accessed at FestivalsOfIndia.in
- Nayna Chakrabarty. Anant Chaturdashi-Visarjan-Biding Farewell To Lord Ganesh. Accessed at Nayna.in
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