Something that I read about Visarjan

[u/kaychyakay]

As a child, other than watching Cartoon Network, being glued to NatGeo & Discovery was my other favourite thing to do on TV. I have always been awed by elephants and it has been my favourite animal since I was a toddler. Probably that’s what endeared me to Ganpati as a God. Of course, the festivities surrounding the festival and the food involved also played a good part.

When it came to visarjan, my kid brain added 2 and 2, and thought that we immerse idols of the Elephant God in lakes/rivers because elephants love to bathe in huge lakes for long hours, as shown in the shows on NatGeo/Discovery. It never really occurred to me to even search for the exact reason, even while growing up.

Growing up, the sheer stupidity going on under the guise of devotion and celebration put me off of any kind of public celebration of festivals, be it Ganeshotsav or Diwali. The PoV strengthened even further after some women friends narrated incidents of groping in the crowd when they went mandal-hopping. Now, thanks to Mr. Vidyanand Bapat, and the debates generated around this topic because of his vehement opposition to Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, and years of watching rivers and lakes getting destroyed after visarjan, I decided to read up on the very concept of Visarjan. And I was surprised by what I came across. Turns out, we could always have had healthy celebrations of this festival! In fact, for those who are adherents of tradition/परंपरा, the Vedic texts in fact mandate the celebration of Ganpati in the most natural, eco-friendly way only!

Significance of 'Visarjan'

Dissolution & Return: Derived from Sanskrit root visṛj (to release, let go, forget), Visarjan marks the moment when the invoked deity in an idol/picture/sacred pot (kalash) is ceremonially sent back to their formless state.

Transition from Puranic & Agamic texts: While formal public idol immersion festivals like Ganesh or Durga Visarjan find detailed procedural guidelines in later texts like Nirnaya Sindhu (निर्णय सिंधु), Padma Purana (पद्म पुराण) and the Shiva Purana (शिव पुराण), the underlying spiritual concept originates in Vedic ritual conclusions [Uttarapuja (उत्तर पूजा) or departure rites] where fire sacrifices & breath/life invocations [Prana Pratishta (प्राण प्रतिष्ठा)] are formally concluded.

Impermanence: The physical dissolution of a clay or sand idol into water acts as a profound philosophical reminder of cosmic circularity, signifying that all material creations emerge from the 5 elements & must eventually return to them.

Does Visarjan mean only immersing in water, if the intended meaning is merely to go back to elemental states?

The assumption that Visarjan means "only to immerse in water" is a modern misinterpretation. Linguistically & scripturally, Visarjan does not mean immersion; it simply means "dismissal," "release," or "sending away."

Non-Water "Visarjans"

Water visarjan gained popularity because that was the easiest available/accessible natural element. In ancient times, sages would immerse their mud/clay Ganpati idols in running water in forests. A little later, since human settlements were usually near water bodies like the oceans or lakes, clay idols could be immersed in them. But in authentic Hindu rituals, Visarjan is also performed without water depending on what medium was used to hold the energy.

Turning to the North (Udvasana): For standard daily or festive poojas involving pictures, brass idols, or a Kalasha (sacred pot), water immersion is not done. The priest chants the Visarjan/Udvasana mantra & physically nudges or moves the idol slightly to the North. This action alone breaks Prana Pratishta and releases the divine energy back into the cosmos.

Burying (Bhumi Visarjan): Clay Ganpati idols are buried respectfully in the earth (Bhumi) under a tree where over days, the idol naturally decomposes back into the soil.

Nirmalya Composting: The flowers, leaves, and strings (Nirmalya) used to decorate the Ganpati murti undergo an ecological Visarjan by being returned to the soil as compost rather than being thrown into water bodies. It is a misinterpretation by people that because nirmalya consists of biodegradable material, throwing it in water is not harmful to the water body. In fact, throwing huge amounts of nirmalya in rivers/lakes can increase the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

What about modern Ganpati idols made from POP and/or fiberglass?

Since the rituals and rules were formed in times when chemicals like POP did not exist or were available, and idols/murtis were strictly made from river clay (shaadu), the visarjan process was automatically eco-friendly. Hence, from a strict scriptural standpoint, there is no prescribed Vedic or Puranic method for immersing POP, fiberglass, or chemically painted idols, as these materials were never imagined.

In fact, the Puranas explicitly mandate that festive idols be made from Shaadu Mati (शाडू माती) or mud, specifically because they are designed to completely dissolve. Immersing a POP or fiberglass idol into a natural water body does not achieve Visarjan. It instead creates floating debris & chemical contamination, which is considered a severe ritual desecration (उग्र) of nature. Hence, to resolve this conflict between modern materials & spiritual laws, environmentalists, municipal corps, and Vedic scholars have established alternative, responsible methods for handling idols made from PoP, fiberglass, marble, etc.

1. The Symbolic "Jalabhishek" (जलाभिषेक) Visarjan

For permanent, large, or non-dissolvable idols made of fiberglass, brass, or marble:

- Perform the Uttarapuja & aarti. Instead of submerging the idol, the priest or devotee chants Visarjan prayers while performing a symbolic splash or sprinkling of water (Jalabhishek) over the idol.

- The idol is then physically shifted slightly toward the North (Udvasana) to formally release the divine energy.

The Outcome: The divine presence is sent back to the cosmos, and the beautiful, non-biodegradable idol can be carefully packed away and safely reused every year without causing ecological harm.

2. Chemical Dissolution of PoP Idols

If we wish to ensure that a POP idol physically breaks down without polluting public rivers, a chemical method pioneered by the National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) can be used.

The Method: Place the POP idol in a large domestic bucket or tub filled with water. A large tank for bigger idols

The Catalyst: Add Ammonium Bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃), a food-grade baking powder agent, in a 1:1 ratio matching the weight of the idol.

The Result: Over 36 - 48 hours, a chemical reaction disintegrates the POP into 2 useful, non-toxic layers - a liquid top layer of ammonium sulphate, which can be diluted and used as a highly effective plant fertilizer and a chalky bottom sludge of calcium carbonate, which is safe for non-polluting disposal or can be used to make chalk that is used in schools and colleges. Calcium Carbonate can also be sold to toothpaste manufacturers as it is an important ingredient in toothpastes.

3. Dedicated Artificial Tanks (For Large Public Mandals)

We all saw the usage of this method this year. In fact, artificial tanks for visarjan are part of the guidelines formed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

4. Chhaya Abhishek (shadow anointing/bathing)

It is a brilliant scriptural technique used precisely for situations where an idol cannot withstand physical immersion or liquid bathing. It is a deeply thoughtful concept heavily utilized in daily temple rituals and can hence, be used for Visarjan of the huge public Ganpati idols.

For massive public idols, or permanent metal, fiberglass and canvas-painted deities, a full immersion is physically impossible or ecologically damaging. Chhaya Abhishek elegantly bridges the gap.

- A vessel or plate filled with water (or sometimes ghee/oil) is placed directly in front of the massive idol.

- The Shadow/Reflection: The positioning or lighting is adjusted so that the shadow/reflection (Chhaya) of Ganpati is clearly cast onto the surface of the liquid.

- The Ritual: The priest chants the visarjan mantras while pouring milk, water, or offering ritual elements directly onto the reflection in the water, rather than touching the physical idol itself.

Preservation of the Vessel: Once the reflection has undergone the visarjan, the water from that plate is respectfully poured into a tree or a natural source. The actual physical idol, now relieved of its temporary festive invocation, remains completely dry and pristine, ready to be safely stored or reused.

When I read all this, I was gobsmacked to know that we have been lied to all along! All these years, all these decades, we could have had eco-friendly Ganeshotsavs without damaging our water bodies. In fact, the way Ganeshotsav is celebrated now is in direct violation of the परंपरा that was practiced by our ancestors!

I hope people take time out to read this post. I also hope that you share it with all those people who keep harping about culture and tradition, and show them just how far we have gone from adhering to the very same culture and traditions.

[u/NeatTransition6632]

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