Ganapati is coming…parisaraganapati.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/... · environmental damage....

Ganapatiiscoming…SriVinayakaChathurthiiscomingsoon…Sep5th thisyear

……Whatthoughts crossedyourmindwhenyouhearaboutVinayakaChathurthiDidyouthinkabout…

• Modak…..J….Ok…Whatelse

• TheshinyglossycolorfulmesmerizingstatuesofLordGanapati

• And…..explosionofcreativityinpreparingthestatuesofLordGanapati,pandaldecorations….

• Poojas,Bhajans,

• And…loudmusic,unattendedgarbage….and..

• Environmental damage ????????

Youknow….

• VinayakaChathurthi iscelebratedintheBhadrapadamontheveryyear.

• StatuesofLordGanapatiofdifferent sizesmadeofclayandothermaterialsaresetupincommunitypandals,individual homesandpoojaperformed onChathurthidayandinmanyplacesfor10days.

• AllthestatuesofLordGanapatiareimmersedinwateronthesamedayoroverthe10daysendingwithAnanthaChaturdashi.

• Thisistypicallyatimeforalltheyoung folksintheareatogettogether,setuppoojapandals….Goaroundallthenearbypoojapandalsandviewalltheelaboratearrangements,decorationsandofcourse…prasad….J

Doyouknow?….

• ThestatuesofLordGanapati wereearlierusuallymadeofclay,werenotpaintedorusednaturaldyes,andtherewereonlyafewstatuesofLordGanapati worshipped inthevillage/town.

• Nowadays,thestatuesofLordGanapati aremadeofjute,hay,cloth,paper,wood,Thermocol,PlasterofParis,adhesivematerialsandsyntheticpaints.Usually,thebigger statuesaremadeusingnon-claymaterial.

• Thermocol isnot-biodegradablewhilepaintscontainheavymetalssuchaschromium,lead,nickel,cadmiumandzinc, PlasterofParisismanytimescontaminatedbyAsbestos,aknowncarcinogen.

• Typically,thestatuesofLordGanapatithathaveglossy,shinyfinishhavebeencolouredusingsyntheticpaints.Thesepaintscontaintoxicingredientsthatgetreleasedtothewaterandsoilafterimmersion. Forexample,theGoldencolorusedforthecrowngetsitscolorfromChromiumcompounds,thegreen,yellowcolorsfromleadandleadcompounds.Thesetoxicchemicalshaveaharmfulaffectonplants,animalsandhumans.

Doyouknow?….

• Inmanyplaces,thestatuesofLordGanapatiareimmersedinopenwells,tanks,lakes,rivers,sea.Thesewaterbodiesarealsousedfordrinkingwaterandirrigationandotheractivities.Thesetoxinswhenreleasedtowaterseepintothesoilandcausebothshort-termandlong-term impactontheenvironmentandhealth.

• During theimmersion,alotofthepoojamaterialiswrappedinsealedplasticbags anddisposedoff inthewaterbodies.Atthepandals, lotsofplasticistypicallyusedforprasad,andnotcorrectlydisposed.

• Thebio-accumulationofheavymetalsinthebiological systemtransfersthetoxicelementsfromtheproducer toconsumer levelwhichcanbeafuturehealthhazard.

• Detailedstudieshavebeenmadebyconcernedindividuals andvariousorganizationsthatshowtheincreasingquantitiesofthetoxicmaterialovertheyears.

Pollutionmeasurements…(studiesdoneinBhopal,Bangalore)

Parameter Pre-immersion During immersion Post-immersion pH 8.1-8.3 8.5-8.7 8.7-8.9 Turbidity 19-29 18-21 38-45 D.O. 8-14.2 9.6-17.6 2.8-13.6 Alkalinity 96-114 86-114 102-130 Chloride 15.7-16.9 9.4-10.2 18.5-16.1 Total solids 144-167 156-172 137-144 BOD 13.2-28.8 20.4-34.4 13.2-36.4 COD 10-80 20-80 120-180

Heavy Metal Pre-immersion During immersion Post-immersion

Surface Bottom Surface Bottom Surface Bottom

Ni (Nickel) BDL BDL BDL 4 BDL 4

Cr (Chromium) 4 6 5 8 8 18

Mn (Magnesium) 102 240 112 326 116 340

Pb (Lead) 246 526 340 704 460 648

•BDL= Below detectable limit.•BOD – Biological Oxygen Demand•COD – Chemical Oxygen Demand

•*AllunitsexceptpHandturbidityareinmg/I.

One2KgstatueofLordGanapati paintedwithleadbasedpaintsleaks2gmormoreoflead.Otherheavymetalsarealsoleakedbasedonthecoloursused.

HealthimpactofthepollutantsLead Chromium Cadmium Manganese Nickel

Ithasno roleinhumanhealth.

Maximumallowableconcentration indrinkingwaterforchromium(VI)is0.05milligramsperlitre.

Cadmiumhasnoconstructivepurposeinthehumanbody.

Itisanessentialtracedelement.

Itispresentinthebodynaturally.

Leadpoisoning(alsoknownascolicapictonium,saturnism,plumbism,orpainter'scolic)isamedicalconditioncausedbyincreasedlevelsofthemetalleadintheblood.

Highconcentrationsofchromium(III)inthecellcanleadtoDNAdamage.

Cadmiumanditscompoundsareextremelytoxiceven inlowconcentrations.

Manganesepoisoninghasbeenlinkedtoimpairedmotorskillsandcognitivedisordersinchildren.

Exposuretonickelmetalandsolublecompoundsshouldnotexceed0.05 mg/cm³.

Leadmaycauseirreversibleneurologicaldamageaswellasrenaldisease,cardiovasculareffects,andreproductivetoxicity.

Itdamagesthekidneys,theliverandbloodcellsthroughoxidationreactionsresultinginhaemolysis,LiverandKidneydamage.Skinallergyandmanyskinlesions.

Highcadmiumlevelsinthewater,air,andsoilhasbeenparticularlyproblematicinJapan.Thericethatwasgrownincadmiumcontaminatedirrigationwaterresultedinitai-itaidisease(Bonesoftening(Osteoporosis)andKidney failure).ItisalsoCarcinogenic.

AformofneurodegenerationsimilartoParkinson'sDiseasecalled"manganism"hasbeenlinkedtomanganeseexposure.

Sensitizedindividualsmayshowanallergytonickelaffectingtheirskinresultingdermatitis.

Ganapatipoojawasnotintendedtocreatepollution….

• WearecontributingtopollutionbecauseoflackofawarenessoftheimpactofthedistortedpracticesduringGanapatipooja.VinayakaChathurthi,likemostotherSanatanaDharmapractices,isintendedtopromoteawarenessoftheimportanceoftheenvironmentandtheclosedependenciesbetweenthehumanspeciesandtheenvironment.

• TheRishiswereawareoftheenormousnegativeimpactofunmitigatedhumanactivitiesonthewholeenvironmentanditseffectonhumanwelfare.Thevariousfestivalsatdifferenttimesoftheyeararepartofelaboratelessons/reminderstomankindaboutmaintainingharmonywiththeenvironmentapartfromhelpwithman'sspiritualjourney.

SignificanceofGanapatipooja…• TheimageofGanapatiwithhiselephantheaditselfisasymbol

ofnature.

• TheconceptofpreparingthestatueofLordGanapati withclayobtainedfromnatureandreturningitbacktonaturebyimmersionisverysymbolicoftherightpathformankindtoreturntotherootsofnature.

• AspecialritualduringtraditionalGanapatipoojaistheDoorvaYugmaPooja(ArchanaofLordGanapatiwithgrass).

• AnotheruniqueritualduringGanapatipoojaistheArchanawiththeleavesof21differentplants,trees.

Allthisleadsustothinkabout..

• Howcomesuchaenvironmentfriendlypracticehasmorphedintosomethingwithdiabolicallyoppositeeffect.Isitbeingobservedintherightspirit?

• Howhavetheconceptsandpracticeshavedeviatedovertimefromtheideal,prescribedtraditions.?

• WehavebeenplacingmoreemphasisongrandeurandpompandcolorandignoringthebasicideasbehindGanapatipooja.

• Itishightimewereviewourpracticesandunderstandandperformthepoojaintherightspirit….

GanapatiistheGodofAgriculture

• WhenweworshipGanapatiweareworshipping MotherEarthanditscreations.Itisaprocessofrevisitingthecreationandrealizingtheprocessofcreation,sustenanceanddestruction.

• GanapatiistheGodofAgriculture.Weneedtwoshovelsandoneplough, theshovels arerepresentedbythelargeears,thelonetuskrepresentstheplough,thetrunkindicatesthesourceofirrigation.

• ThestatuesofLordGanapatimustbemadeoutofclay,itisbetterifitmadewithyourhands,whatevertheshapeyouareabletogiveit,uglyorcrudeitdoes notmatter.

• AccordingtotheAgamas,thesizeofthestatuesofLordGanapatishould notbebig.TheamountofNaivedyaofferedtothedeitytwiceadayandservedasprasadammustbe10timesthesizeofthestatue!Ifthisstatuel isjustthesizeofafist,atleast1kgofricemustbeofferedfornaivedyam..Ifnotdoneintherightproportions, thepoojadoes notyield anyfruit.

• Thecurrentpracticeswithfocusonpomp, splendor,lavishness hastobereplacedwiththeoriginalspiritoftruedevotion andsubmission andeco-friendlytraditions.

ShatavadhaniDr.R.GaneshMulti-lingualScholar

Video,Transcriptofthefullmessage isavailableathttp://parisaraganapati.net

GanapatimeansLordofthesenses..

• GanapatimeanstheLordofthesenses. ThatLordiswithinus.

• Ganapatipoojaisbestperformedwiththeattentionturnedinwards.

• AllthepracticesandritualsduringGanapatipoojamustbeperformedwithgreatcare.

• ThestatuesofLordGanapatiusedmustbepreparedoffromclay,theimmersionofthestatuesofLordGanapatiinclearwaterisamust.Useofshiny, pollution causingpaintsmustbeshunned.

• Allthepracticesmustbedone insuch awaythatenvironment, ourneighborhood, no-onegetsadverselyaffectedbythepooja.

H.H.SwamiBrahmanandajiChinmayaMission, Bangalore


FestivalsarepartofthegreatIndianspiritualandculturaltraditions.. • Indiahasagreatspiritualandculturaltradition,

ithasbeensafeguardingusallthesegenerationsandhelpingusprogress.ObservingfestivalslikeGanapatiisoneoftheexamplesofthistradition.

• Ifthesefestivalsarecelebratedinkeepingwiththespiritofecologicalsustainment, itwillbringgreatjoytoallthepeople.Oflate,weareseeingadistortion intheobservanceofthesefestivals.

• ThepracticeofimmersingpaintedstatuesofLordGanapatiwithtoxicchemicalsinwaterbodies likewells,lakesetcthatareused fordrinkingwatermustbeavoided.

• ItisbestifthestatuesofLordGanapatiaremadeofclayandnotcolored.

• InSriMath,childrenpreparethestatuesofLordGanapatifromfreshclaydopooja andbury itinthemud.Inthearidareas,itmakesalotofsense nottopollute thescarcewatersources.

H.H.Dr.SriShivamurthyMurughaSharanaruSriMurughaMath


Poojainthespiritofthescriptures.. • TheeffortsofBalaGangadharTilakhavelead

totheGanapatifestivaltakingsocialdimension,, andithasnowbecomeapopular festivalalloverthecountry.

• Accordingtothescriptures, thestatuesofLordGanapatihastobepreparedfromclayobtainedfromthetanks,ponds, lakesandotherwaterbodies.

• Unfortunately, thepracticeofusingtoxicchemicalstopaintthestatuesofLordGanapatihasleadtoalotofenvironmentaldamage.This hastobestopped,andonly naturaldyes ofvegetableoriginhavetobeused.

• Also, inthenameofGanapatifestival,alotofactivitiesthatareagainstthespiritofourreligionaretakingplaceintheGanapatipandals duringthepoojadaysandalsoduringimmersion.

• Suchactivitiesmustbeavoidedasitsetsaverywrongprecedenttoouryoungergeneration.

• Weneedtowakeupandobserve thisfestivalinawaysuggestedbyourscripturesandapprovedbythegreatGurusofthisland.

• Thefestivalmustbecelebratedinawaythatwillelevatethepeopleparticipatinginitandensures nodamageisdonetotheprecious eco-system.

H.H.SwamiHarshanandajiSriRamakrishna Math,Bangalore


Ganapatiworshipwithasenseofhumility..

• AmovementtospreadtheawarenessabouttheneedforaecologicallyfriendlyGanapatifestivalisanessentialandunavoidableneedoftheday.

• ThepracticeofmakinglargestatuesofLordGanapatiwithnon-claymaterialsisgainingground,alongwiththeuseoftoxiccolours.Thisisabigrisktothehealthofthepeople.

• Ganapatipoojahastobeperformedwithconcernabouttheenvironmentandalsothebestculturalandspiritualpracticesshouldbereinforced.

• Ganapatiwillnotbeunhappyifyouworshipannaturallyuncoloredclaystatue.Infact,hewillappreciateit.

• Donotuseanytoxicpaintsinthemakingofthe statuesofLordGanapati,ithasaverysignificantimpactontheenvironment.

H.H. SriSriSriBalagangadharanatha SwamijiSriAdichunchanagiriMahasamsthanaMath


Buildingasenseofenvironmentalawarenessandownership..

• Wehavetoinculcatetheperspectiveofpatriotism, spiritualityandenvironmentprotectioninoureverydaylifeandpracticeit.

• SriKrishnasentthismessageofenvironmentprotectionthroughhis variousdeeds.Suchmessagesareaveryessential partofallSanatanaDharmapractices.

• Festivalsmustbecelebratedwithgreatenergyandgaiety,butalsowiththeconcernfortheenvironmentandfortheculturalandspiritualsensibilities.

• Anypractices,eventsthatviolatethespiritofsocietalandenvironmentwelfaremustbeavoided.

• UseofbigstatuesofLordGanapatimadewithnon-claymaterialsmustbeavoided.ThestatuesofLordGanapatimustbepreparedfromclay.Onlynaturaldyesmustbeusedforcoloring topreventanyenvironmentaldamage.

• Abigmovementtoensureaecologicallyfriendly ,spiritually richGanapatifestivalmustbetakenup.

H.H.SriVisveshaTeerthaSwamijiSriPejavaraAdhokshajaMath


8/15/2009

ThussaysSriGurujiregardingParisaraGanapati!

• LordGANAPATIisalwayspleasedprovided youhave

Generosity,Adjustment,Newoutlook,Alertness,Purity,Appreciation,ToleranceandIntrospection

• TorealiseHim,betterinculcateperfectFaith,Devotion,YearningfirstandpracticeprayingforthewelfareofallJeevakotis inthisUniverse.

Continued….

Dr.A.ChandrashekaraUdupa(Doctorji)DivinePark,Saligrama

8/15/2009

ThussaysSriGurujiregardingParisaraGanapati!

• Behumble andnevergrumble.GodalwaysseestheinnerpurityofHeart-MindComplex andnotatalltheexternalpompandluxury.SoinstallHisgloryinyourheartfirstandthenleadalifeofduty, dedicationanddirection.

• WhenLordGaneshdwellsinyourheart,thennoneedtoworship anotherdeity.Soprayhumbly toHimtoglorifyHimselfinyourintellectfirstandrelayinnertuition inyourintuition andthenthereisnotatallanurgetodispose HiminyourLife-time.

• TillHisgreatnessremainswellimprintedinyourIntellect,youhavetoworshipHimonGaneshaChowthi dayandimmerseHiminariverrememberingthemotto'freethemudtomudonly!'ButbebenevolenttotheNatureandneverharmitsmildness andtextureandsuccumbtokukarmaandsufferlater!”

Dr.A.ChandrashekaraUdupa(Doctorji)DivinePark,Saligrama

GaneshaistheLordofWisdom..• OnthenightofGaneshChathurthi,weare

warnednottolook atthemoon…Itissaidthatifyoulook atthemoononthisnight,thenyouwillgetblamedforsomethingyoudidn’t do!Sodon’tlook atthemoon!!!

• Funny……, istheresomedeepermeaningtothis?.Themoon symbolizes themind…Justasthemoonwaxesandwanes,themind goesupanddown…Somedaysitmakesyoufeelgood,othertimesitcandragyoudownintothepitsofdespairforthesmallestofreasons…Themindiswhatconstantlygetsyouintotrouble…

• GaneshaistheLordofWisdomanditisHewhoteachesushowtogetoverthevagranciesofthemind, howtobeestablished firmlyinKnowledgeandletnothingshakeusoutfromtheBlissoftheBeing.AndsoonthedaywhenwearegoingtocelebrateLordGanesha,wedon’t lookatthemoon…meaningFollowKnowledge, notyourlittlemind!.

• Don’tlookatthemoon!Don’tletthatsmallmindofyoursruleyou…BeinKnowledge,Bewise,Behappy!CelebrateGanapatiinSatsangh,inthespiritofknowledgeandreverencefornature.…..

•

H.H.SriSriRavishankarGurujiTheArtofLiving

GaneshaistheLordofWisdom..• Weshouldmakesureweconsider

theimpactontheenvironmentwhenwecelebrateGanapatipooja.

• IfyouusestatuesofLordGanapatiwhicharecoloredusingsyntheticpaints,weshould notimmersethese.Ifyounecessarily havetoimmersethestatuesofLordGanapati,thenyoushould useonlypaintsbasedonnaturaldyes.

• Actuallyyoushould notuseanypaints, youshould usestatuesofLordGanapatithataremadeofclayandjustretainthenaturalcolor.Seetheelephant,ithasonlyonecolor,sotheGanapatiyouuseforworshipshouldnothaveanyadditional color.

• UseofanyharmfulpaintswillmeanyouaredisrespectingMotherGangaBhavani.

continued..H.H.SriSriRavishankarGurujiTheArtofLiving


GaneshaistheLordofWisdom..• BeforeimmersingthestatuesofLordGanapati,

normally thewaterelement,GangaBhavaniisworshipped.However,aftertheworship, ifweimmersestatuespaintedwithtoxicchemicals,poojaitemsinsealedplasticbagsandothernonbio-degradablematerialandpollutethewater,wewillbeactuallyshowingdisrespect toGangaBhavani.

• WehavetokeepthePanchaTatva-thefiveelements– space,air,fire,water.earthfreefrompollution .Thatisrealworship.

• LetuskeepGanapatiinourheartwhenweperformthepooja andmakesurewedonotharmtheenvironment.

H.H.SriSriRavishankarGurujiTheArtofLiving


ParisaraGanapatiWhatyoucando…• Now,thatyouareaware,itisthebeginningofthelarger

workthatneedstobedonetogetbackontrack.• Itisahugetask,onethatcanbedonewiththecollaboration,

co-operationofallthestakeholdersincludingmakers,dealers,consumers.

• AllthemakersofthestatuesofLordGanapatihavetoeducatedabouttheimportanceofpreparingunpaintedstatuesofLordGanapati.Theymustbeprovidedinformationaboutandaccesstothenaturallyavailabledyesandtheirpreparation.

• Ithastobestartedattheindividuallevelwithyou.• Youcanmakeadifference,withyouractionsandalsoby

spreadingtheawareness.

ParisaraGanapatiWhatyoucando…• UsesmallstatuesofLordGanapati(12– 14inchestall)madeofclay only.• UseonlystatuesofLordGanapatithatareuncolored.Oncethe

decorationsaredoneyouwillnotreallynoticetheabsenceofcolors.• IfyoumustusepaintstatuesofLordGanapati,remembertheshiny

materialismostdamagingbecauseoftheheavymetalcontent.• Naturaldyebasedpaintsdonotgiveaglossyfinish,butdolookaspretty

andcausenodamagetotheenvironment.• DonotimmersebigstatuesofLordGanapati,re-use/exchangewith

othersforthenextyear.Fortheimmersion,youcanuseonlythesmall,clay,unpaintedstatuesofLordGanapati.ThisisbeingorganizedandpracticedinPune.

• DonotimmersestatuesofLordGanapatiwithpaints,artificialmaterialsinwaterbodiesusedfordrinking..wells,ponds,lakes.

• Sharethisinformationwithyourfriends,relatives,colleaguesandpromoteawareness.Forwardthemessage,addlinksonyourblogs,putupanoteonyouroffice/school/collegenoticeboard…

• Thissitehaslotsofresourcestohelpwiththepromotionofeco-friendlyGanapatiPooja.Thissitehas:vDetailsofvendorssupplyingecoGanesha statues.vVideos,documentsofecoGanesha statuemaking.vDetailsonthenaturaldyesandtheirpreparation.vDetailsontheenvironmentalstudies.vFulllengthvideosofthemessagesfromtheDharmaGurus.Transcriptionsofthemessages.

vAForumtodiscussideasandco-ordinateeffortstomakethismissionpossible.Linkstootherresources,organizationspromotinggreenerGanapaticelebrations…

Visitparisaraganapati.net

8/15/2009

Acknowledgements…Research&Content

• ShatavadhaniDr.RGaneshMulti-lingualScholar

• Dr.HarishBhatMember,Bio-DiversityMgmtCommitteeBBMP,Bangalorewww.asima.org.in

• Dr.NaSomeswaraDoctor&MedicalWriterwww.yakshaprashne.org

• Sri.N.ShashidharaConvener, ecoGaneshaProject,CraftsCouncil ofKarnataka,NRCLPI

• RegionalDesign&TechnicalDevelopmentCentre(TechnicalWing),Min.ofTextiles,Govt.ofIndiaBangalore,[email protected]

• SriChakravarthySulibeleOrator&Authorwww.vivekabharata.net

Music

FilmingAashrithaPhoto&Video

[email protected]

EditingDigiVideo

[email protected]

Art,TechSupportDhyeyaTech

8/15/2009

An An Initiative from…

In Association with

*Shri.NaickJi,Koramangala,Bangalore,May2007

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