Every Year September 17th
is Viswakarma Puja. It takes place after Ganesh Chaturthi. This year however,
Ganesh Puja is on 17th and hence Viswakarma Puja is on 18th
September. This is the day all machines and vehicles are worshipped in offices,
construction sites, mills, garages and factories.
Photo: A bus all decked out with flowers on Viswakarma Puja(17 September 2014)
Photo: Viswakarma Puja on Howrah Station, near Railway Police Force office
Lord Viswakarma is the
Engineer of the Gods. He is also called the Divine Carpenter and Divine
Architect. He makes the fabulous weapons of the Gods.
He was one of the divine
beings to emerge during the churning of the Ocean-‘Samudra Manthan’ by the
Devas and Asuras (two groups of powerful beings in conflict with each other to gain control of all the worlds). We find mention of Viswakarma right from the Rig Veda.
Picture source: theRishikesh.com.
His preferred vehicle is the
Elephant. In his four hands he holds the Sledge hammer, the Axe, a weighing scale
and a Bow each.
Sthapatya Veda, the science
of mechanics and architecture is credited to Lord Viswakarma.
He is the maker of Indra’s
lightning weapon, the architect of Sri Krishna’s Dwarka which he built
overnight, the Maya Sabha of Indraprastha, the palace of the Pandavas.
In Ramayana, Viswakarma
built Swarna Lanka, the golden palace for Shiva and Parvati to live in after their marriage. For the house
warming ritual (Griha Pravesh), Sage Pulastya was approached. After conducting
the Puja, Lord Shiva asked him what he would like to have as his fees
(Dakshina) and Pulastya so enamoured with the palace, asked for it. This
eventually went to Ravan when he overthrew his half-brother Kuber (Grandson of
Pulastya) and captured all his wealth.
In Bengali folklore,
Viswakarma is credited with building the snake proof Iron chamber for Behula and
Lakhinder’s wedding night. But he was tricked into leaving a tiny opening by Ma
Manasa (Goddess of snakes) who then went on to take Lakhinder’s life.
Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbera
Source: Wikimedia
Kite flying activity takes
place on Viswakarma Puja in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, MP and Bengal. A spool of
kite flying thread is also offered in front of the idol.
In many households in Bengal, this is also the day the goddess of snakes-Ma Manasa is worshipped in the kitchen. The stove and utensils are worshipped and a feast is cooked the previous night. No food is cooked on the day of the ritual in the kitchen. The feast includes dishes of hilsa and a Dal(curry) made of 6 types of lentils boiled together and eaten with a drop of mustard oil.
If you have any interesting ritual followed in your home, please do share. India is rich in festivals and rituals with interesting stories behind each.
Have a wonderful festive season. May the Goddess shower her blessings on you all.
In many households in Bengal, this is also the day the goddess of snakes-Ma Manasa is worshipped in the kitchen. The stove and utensils are worshipped and a feast is cooked the previous night. No food is cooked on the day of the ritual in the kitchen. The feast includes dishes of hilsa and a Dal(curry) made of 6 types of lentils boiled together and eaten with a drop of mustard oil.
If you have any interesting ritual followed in your home, please do share. India is rich in festivals and rituals with interesting stories behind each.
Have a wonderful festive season. May the Goddess shower her blessings on you all.
