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Home > Temples of Kerala > Vinayaka-chathurthhi Vinayaka-chathurthhiVinayaka-chathurthhi is observed in Kerala on the day of sukla-paksha chathurthhi falling in the month of Chingam. In some other parts of the country it is observed in the Bhadrapada lunar month . Vinayaka, as already indicated in the earlier chapter, is the remover of obstacles and therefore the Chathurthhi which is the birthday of Lord Ganes'a is observed with variety of poojas like Maha Ganapathi homam, Navakaabhishekam and special offerings like breaking of large number of coconuts, . nivedyas (like appam, modakam, aval, vata etc.) special deepaaraadhana etc. Special performances with musical instruments like pancha-vaadya are staged besides staging of some performing arts. Irrespective of Lord Ganapathi being installed as principal deity or subsidiary deity, Vinayaka chathurthhi day is observed with varying degree of rituals in all temples. The festivals at the Maha Ganapathi temple (Pazhavangadi) inTrivandrum city, and at Ganapathivattom (present Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district) and Vaarnam in Cherthalai taluk deserve special mention. The other important temples having Ganapathi as principal deity are those located at Edappally palace (Cochin City), Santhanpara (Deviku~am taluk), Thodupuzha, Pamba (in Sabarimala) etc. while those important temples having subsidiary deity as Ganapathi are Madhur (Anandeswara Vimiyaka temple), Mayyil (Chenga\ath temple) and Kottarakkara (Gapapathi shrine at the Siva temple). The list is only illustrative For religious purposes the lunar year of Salivaahana Sakabdam is followed. The Malayalam months and the corresponding Saka months are as follows (Tamil months are also given in brackets). (1) Chingam (Aavani): SRaavana-Bhadrapada; (2) Kanni(Purattasi): Badrapada- Asvanlya; (3) Thulam (Alpasi): Aswiniya-Kaarthika; (4) vrschikam (Kaarthika): Kaarthika-Margaseersha; (5) Dhanu (Markazhi): Margasgeersha-Paushya; (6) Makaram (Thai): Paushya-Magh; (7) Kumbham (Masi) : Magh-phalguna; (8) Mee!}am (Painkuni): Phalghuna-Chithra; (9) Metam: (Chittihra) Chithra-Vysaakha; (10) Itavam (Vykasy: Vysaakha-Jeshta (11) Mithhunam (Ani): Jeshta-Ashada : and (12) Karkkatakam (Aadi): Ashada-sraavana. The Saka month starts between 6th and 8th day of Malayalam month and 21st to 23 of corresponding international Calendar month (Jan to Dec). A lunar month consists of two fortnights based on New moon (Amaavaasi or Karuthavaavu) or Full moon (Pournami or Veluthha vaavu). The fortnight that succeedes New moon and ending with Full moon is known as bright fortnight (sukla-paksha or veluthha-paksha) and that starting from Full moon and ending with New moon is dark fortnight (Mahaalaya-paksha or Krishna-paksha or Karuttha-paksha). Sukla-paksha is generally considered as days of spiritual importance ie for conducting initiation to Gaayathri manthra, consecration of idols, important poojas, conducting of Bhagavatha saptahas etc. On the other hand the Mahaalaya paksha is of religious importantce like observance of Amaavaasi vratha and tharppana(libation of water and kila (gingelly) for the manes of one's own departed souls.) The Amaavaasi occuring in the month of Bhadra (known as karkkataka-vaavu) and Paushya (Makara-vaavu) are observed by most Hindus as days for bali to ancestors preceded by vratha (orikkaal) on the previous day.
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