'
Sankashti Chaturthi'', also known as Sankatahara Chaturthi, is a day in every
lunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two successive syzygies of the same type: new moons or full moons. The precise definition varies, especially for the beginning of the month.
Variations
In Shona, Middle Eastern, and Europ ...
of the
Hindu calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a s ...
dedicated to Hindu God
Ganesha
Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...
. This day falls on the fourth day of the
Krishna Paksha
Paksha (also known as ''pakṣa''; sa, पक्ष, Nepal Bhasa: ''thwa'' and ''gа̄''; ) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.
Literally meaning "side", a paksha is the period either side of the Ful ...
(the dark lunar phase or the waning fortnight of the moon). If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday, it is called
Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi. Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi is considered highly important among all Sankashti Chaturthi days. This is said to have started around 700 BC as an obstacle removal ritual regarding conflicting views of confidence as stated by Abhisheka Maharishi in tutoring his pupil Aishwarya while deriving due reason from the scriptures.
Details
On this day, devotees observe a strict fast. They break the fast at night after having
darshan/auspicious sight of the moon preceded by prayers to Ganesha. Th
Angaraki Chaturthi(angarak in Sanskrit means red like burning coal embers and refers to the planet Mars (which Tuesday (मंगलवार) is named after). Devotees believe their wishes will be fulfilled if they pray on this day. Observing this fast is believed to reduce problems, as Ganesha is the remover of all obstacles and the supreme lord of intelligence. Before moonlight, the Ganapati Atharvasheersha is recited to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Ganesha is the god of gods. The Krishna Paksha Chaturthi in the month of Magha is also observed as Sakat Chauth.
During each month, Ganesha is worshiped with a different name and ''peeta'' (seat). On th
Sakashta Chaturthiday of each month, the 'Sankashta Ganapathi Pooja' prayer is performed. Each ''Vratha'' (strict fast) has a purpose and is explained to us by a story known as the ''Vratha Katha''. This prayer offering has 13 ''Vratha Kathas'', one for each month and the 13th story is for ''adhika'' (The Hindu calendar has one extra month approximately every 3 years). The uniqueness of this Vratha is that the story pertaining to that month alone has to be recited.
The Sankasta Ganapathi Pooja - 13 Names and Peetas
It is believed that Ganesha bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this day. It is the day that
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
declared his son Ganesha to be superior to all the other gods, except
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
,
Lakshmi
Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Alo ...
,
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
and
Parvati
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked by Hindus at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of a trip.
Legend
Traditional stories tell that Ganesha was created by the Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Parvati created Ganesha out of the turmeric paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her door while she bathed. Shiva returned, and as Ganesha who didn't know him, hindered Shiva's path. Shiva got enraged and severed the head killing the boy. Parvati was upset seeing her son dead. Shiva understanding his mistake promised that her son would live.
Brahma
Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...
the creator of life asked Shiva to use the head of the first animal he see in the forest. An elephant calf ended up as the first animal and its head was used to bring Ganesha back to life.Shiva.declared the boy be called "Ganesha" (''Gana-isha'': lord of Ganas) Hence, Ganesha came to be depicted as the elephant-headed god.
Date
Sankashti Chaturthi comes on every 4th day after Pournami full moon (Krishna Paksha) of
Hindu lunar calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a s ...
month.
Regional Variations
In Jammu, this fast is observed on fourth day of
Krishna Paksha
Paksha (also known as ''pakṣa''; sa, पक्ष, Nepal Bhasa: ''thwa'' and ''gа̄''; ) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.
Literally meaning "side", a paksha is the period either side of the Ful ...
of
Magha month of
Hindu Calendar
The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a s ...
. It is celebrated in reverence to Hindu God
Ganesha
Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...
. Dogra women perform ''Arghya'' to
Chandrama at night. ''Bhugga'' (Til Jaggery mixture) and Radish are donated and eaten to complete the fast.
References
{{HinduFestivals
Festivals in India
Ganesha
Hindu holy days
Hindu festivals