Knowledge Bank

Why is clay idol used in Vinayak Chaturthi Puja?

Ganesha Purana prescribes the use of only clay idols in Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja. Sanatana Dharma is very sensitive about nature and the ecosystem. Vinayaka Chaturthi idols are to be immersed after the Puja. So ideally it has to be a material soluble in water. You can imagine the situation if thousands of wooden or metal idols are immersed in water every year. Moreover, Veda says that the earth was originally made up of clay. Clay was the prime material at the time of creation. That is yet another reason for prescribing clay.

Who asked Venkateswara Swamy to manifest at Upamaka?

It was Sage Narada who asked Venkateswara Swamy to manifest at Upamaka.

श्रीमहागणपतिरवतु मां सिद्धिविनायको मातङ्गमुख- कामजनक विधीन्द्रसन्नुत कामालयतटनिवासो कोमलतरपल्लवपदकर गुरुगुहात्मज शिवात्मज सुवर्णाकर्षण विघ्नराजो पद्माम्बुजो गौरवर्णवसनधरो फालचन्द्रो नरादिविनुतलम्बोदरो ....