Contents
- 1. Sankashtachaturthi vrat
- 1.1 Importance of Chaturthi tithi
- 1.2 The environment around Sri Ganesh temples on the day of Sankashtachaturthi
- 1.3 Actions to be performed in Sankashtachaturthi vrat
- 1.4 The steps in the vrat of Sankashtachaturthi (vratavidhan)
- 1.5 The evening worship of Sri Ganeshji
- 1.6 The worship of the moon on Sankashtachaturthi
- 1.7 Vratangabhojan of Sankashtachaturthi
1. Sankashtachaturthi vrat
1.1 Importance of Chaturthi tithi
Sri Ganeshji is Vighnesha, that is, One who overcomes the dangers. He is Sidhhidata, that is, One who bestows the desired supernatural power. He is Chintamani, that is, One who bestows faith, intellect and Knowledge. He is Mangalmurti, that is, One who makes everything auspicious (mangal).
Molecules or subtle particles of Nitrogen, Oxygen etc. are present in the environment. Similarly, subtlest Ganesh Principle is present in the entire Universe. As compared to other days, on the day of Chaturthi tithi of every month, Ganesh Principle is 100 times more active on Earth. Chaturthi falling in the bright (Shukla) and dark (Krushna) fortnight of the month is known as ‘Vinayaki’ and ‘Sankashti’ Chaturthi respectively.
Vinayaki Chaturthi: Fast is observed throughout the day of Vinayaki Chaturthi. ‘Sri Sidhhivinayak’ is the Deity of this vrat.
Sankashti Chaturthi: Chaturthi falling in the dark fortnight is known as ‘Sankashti’. This vrat is observed to be free of dangers. Deity of this vrat is Sri Vighnavinayak Ganeshji.
We are surrounded by 360 types of subtle frequencies coming from Earth. During the dark fortnight, these 360 types of frequencies are active in higher proportion. Due to this, the flow of that part of the Divine Consciousness that governs the functioning of the mind and body (Chetanashakti) through the channels (nadis) in the body is blocked. To eradicate this danger, Sri Ganeshji is worshipped through the medium of Sankashti Chaturthi vrat. Sri Ganeshji controls these frequencies. The distress caused by these frequencies is overcome due to His worship.
Angaraki Chaturthi: Chaturthi falling on Tuesdays is known as Angaraki Chaturthi. ‘Angar’ means planet Mars. Sri Ganeshji has control over Earth as well as on Mars. Colour of Sri Ganeshji and planet Mars is also identical. Therefore, the fruit of observing ‘Angaraki Vinayaki’ and ‘Angaraki Sankashti’ is equal to the fruit of Vinayaki or Sankashti respectively observed throughout the year. Angaraki vrat is not observed for day and night like the other two vrats. This vrat is observed for 5 prahars; 4 prahars of the day and 1 prahar of the night. Having a meal after rising of the moon is an important aspect of the vrat and does not mean the completion of the vrat. Rarely will one find a person who has not heard about the Sankashtachaturthi vrat.
1.2 The environment around Sri Ganesh temples on the day of Sankashtachaturthi
Sri Ganesh temples at various places look different than on other days. On this day, vendors selling substances like flowers, Durva etc. and people crowding for darshan is a common sight. Some Ganesh temples have queues of people from every strata of society come for darshan. Men, women, children, elderly people are all seen in the queue. The presence of young people is also significant. Without any fuss and publicity, social unity and integration is seen based merely on spiritual emotion of the faithful. The sattvikta, joy and serenity evident in any Ganesh temple, be it famous or average, on Sankashtachaturthi day is extraordinary. Many of us must have visited and experienced the sattvikta, serenity and bliss evident in these temples on Sankashtachaturthi day. Despite the crowd and inconveniences, we try to remain focused on the contemplation of God. The crowd seen in all the temples of Sri Ganeshji on the day of Sankashtachaturthi, is a symbol of the faith of people.
1.3 Actions to be performed in Sankashtachaturthi vrat
- Fasting throughout the day
- Ritualistic worship of Sri Ganeshji in the evening
- Darshan of the moon
- Worship of the moon (Chandrapujan)
- Vratangabhojan
Along with this, as a way of worship, people having faith in Sri Ganeshji perform various actions as per their ability like:
- Going for darshan to the temple on foot or going on bare feet.
- Listening to or reciting Sri Mudgalapurana, Sri Ganeshsahasranamavali etc..
- Reciting the stotras
- Chanting etc.
Daily routine of the faithful associated with observing Sankashtachaturthi vrat: My entire family observes Sankashti vrat. We also observe fast. On the day of Sankashti I get up early in the morning and recite Atharvashirsha 21 times and then ritualistically worship Sri Ganeshji. I complete the daily ritualistic worship by 7 to 7.30 a.m. This helps the children to do the ritualistic worship and proceed for their daily activities. – Sadhak
Devotion increases, thoughts become pure and many experience peace of mind after faithfully observing this vrat on the day of Sankashtachaturthi.
1.4 The steps in the vrat of Sankashtachaturthi (vratavidhan)
In order to vanquish the adversities, the worship of Sri Ganeshji, the One who vanquishes the obstacles has been recommended on the day of sankashti. Sometimes this tithi falls on two days. Then, the tithi on which the moon rises is the day of the vrat.
The main parts of the vrat are the fasting, the ritualistic worship of the Deity concerned, the recitation of stotra etc. In the morning of the sankashti, after bathing and sandhya, the usual worship of the Deity is performed. Some people offer red flowers and Durva at this time itself and worship Sri Ganeshji.
On this day the recitation of Sankashtanashan stotra, Sri Ganapati Atharvashirsha, Brahmanaspatisukta etc. associated with Sri Ganeshji, the chanting of the Name of Sri Ganeshji, His darshan etc. assume importance. The benefit of any vrat is acquired only when it is done with the body, speech and mind.
The fasting associated with the Sankashtachaturthi vrat: On the day of Sankashtachaturthi, if possible, one should live without food. If at all food is required, only sattvik diet like water, fruit, roots, milk etc. should be consumed.
1.5 The evening worship of Sri Ganeshji
In the Sankashtachaturthi vrat, one takes a bath in the evening and arranges the ritualistic worship of Sri Ganeshji with sixteen substances. The idol of Sri Ganeshji used in the daily worship is installed for the worship. If there is no idol in the daily worship, a betel nut is kept on a mound of rice as a symbol of Sri Ganeshji and it is ritualistically worshipped. The red Hibiscus and Durva are kept along with the leaves of various other plants.
The worship is begun with sipping of water from the palm (achaman), pranayam and making a resolve. Thereafter the worshipper purifies his body along with all the substances to be used in the worship by sprinkling water on them.
The Deity of Varun invoked in the water in the copper pitcher (kalash) is worshipped and thereafter Sri Ganeshji is invoked. The idol of Sri Ganeshji is kept in a copper platter. Water is released on the feet of this idol and arghya and achaman are offered.
After this, the idol of Sri Ganeshji is given panchamrut snan, that is, a bath with milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar. Thereafter a bath is given with water mixed with sandalwood paste. Now the recitation of Sri Ganapati Atharvashirsha is done and the idol of Sri Ganeshji is consecrated with water.
After consecration with water, the idol is washed with pure water, wiped with a cloth and kept on the seat. Now Sri Ganeshji is offered cotton clothes. Thereafter a Holy thread is offered. After this, red sandalwood paste, turmeric powder and vermilion are offered. Scent is also offered.
The red Hibiscus flowers are especially offered to Sri Ganeshji. After offering the flowers, the idol of Sri Ganeshji is worshipped with various types of leaves. In this, along with the Durva, the leaves of twenty-one plants like Malati, Bhrungaraj, Ber, Jasmine, Ashok, Shami, Kadamba, Pomegranate etc. are offered.
After the worship with leaves, a Durva is offered along with each of the Names of Sri Ganeshji as given in the booklet of Sri Ganeshasahasranamavali. If it is not possible to offer one thousand Durva, one can offer one hundred Durva and if even that is not possible, at least twenty one Durva are offered.
In order to gain more benefit of the Ganesh Principle, modak which attract this Principle is offered as a Holy sacrament (naivedya). If it is not possible to prepare modak, jaggery and dry coconut should be offered. Arati of Sri Ganeshji is performed. After the worship of Sri Ganeshji, the priest is offered the modak. To complete the offering, money as dakshina along with betel leaf, betel nut and dry coconut is offered.
The mantra of Sri Ganeshji is recited 21 times, the consecrated rice is offered for immersion of Varun Deity and the darshan of the moon is taken.
1.6 The worship of the moon on Sankashtachaturthi
The worship of the moon assumes special importance in the Sankashtachaturthi vrat. If possible, one should go out of the house and take darshan of the moon. The substances are offered to the moon in a copper platter. If for some reason the moon is not visible in the sky, an image of the moon is made as a symbol and worshipped. If this is not possible, a picture of the moon is drawn with rangoli on a wooden seat or a stool and it is worshipped. Sandalwood paste and flowers are offered to the moon. Incense stick and lamp are waved in front of it. Now Holy sacrament (naivedya) is offered to the moon.
After the worship of the moon, arghya is offered three times – once for the Chaturthi tithi, once for Mahaganapati and thereafter once for sankashtanashan Sri Ganeshji. In the end the fourth arghya is offered to the moon. After praying for the welfare of all, the worship is concluded.
1.7 Vratangabhojan of Sankashtachaturthi
The host can consume food after the evening worship of Sri Ganeshji and the worship of the moon. The host should consume food prepared as the Holy sacrament as a prasad. It is the ritual of the Sankashtachaturthi vrat to take meals at the time of moon rise. Hence, this meal is not for breaking the fast, but as a part of the vrat, that is, Vratangabhojan.
The meaning of consuming a meal means consuming cooked rice along with other items of food. The reason for consuming rice is that the Scriptures have given the status of ‘anna’, that is, food, only to rice.
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