Dhundhiraja Chaturthi Vrat Katha

Maharaja Dasaratha said to his Guru Vasishtha, "O Sage! I am still not satisfied by drinking the nectar of the stories. Therefore, please be kind enough to describe the greatness of the Phalguna Shukla Paksha Chaturthi."

Vasishtha Muni said, "O Best among Kings! The Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha of the Phalguna month is boon-bestowing. I am describing the greatness related to this fast, listen carefully—

In the Malava region, there was a magnificent city named Bharaka, endowed with all kinds of wealth and beauty. That city was filled with virtuous people who followed a religious path. In that city, a religious king named Hemangada ruled ethically. King Hemangada was not only proficient in the science of weapons and the art of warfare but was also extremely wise and learned. He had conquered the entire world. For this reason, King Hemangada was respected and unanimously accepted by all kings, meaning all kings of the earth honored him. He was also dear to Brahmins, deities, and guests.

In the course of time, one day suddenly King Hemangada was afflicted by a disease called stomach colic (Udara Shula). That is, a very terrible pain began in his stomach. The king was experiencing heart-rending pain similar to the strike of a weapon in his stomach. Distressed by that unbearable pain, the king began to weep. Various types of mantras and medicines were used for the treatment of the king's stomach colic, but the king's pain continued to increase even more. Subsequently, the king went to the holy places (Tirthas) directed by the knowers of the Vedas and performed worship and rituals for the deities, etc., but his colic continued to increase progressively. The king began to feel so much agony that in distress he decided to give up his body.

At that same time, by coincidence, the great yogi Parvata Muni arrived at the king's palace. The king, suffering from stomach pain, bowed respectfully to the sage and requested him to appease his stomach pain. King Hemangada said to Parvata Muni, 'O Best among Sages! By obtaining the vision of your holy lotus-feet, my birth has become successful, and my parents, children, etc., have all become blessed.' Saying this, the king fell on the ground due to pain and began to weep. Seeing this condition of the king, the Brahmins present there were astonished. Seeing the Brahmins astonished, Parvata Muni asked the king's secretaries (Sachivas), 'O Secretaries! How has King Hemangada obtained this terrible sorrow? Tell me the reason for this plight of the king.'

The secretaries said, 'O Sage! Our Maharaja had an extremely acute colic in his stomach. To remove the pain of that colic, various medicines, mantras, and methods were used; he even went to many holy places and worshipped different deities, but the king did not obtain freedom from the colic. Instead, his pain continued to increase progressively.'

Hearing this, Parvata Muni meditated and, knowing the king's sin, said, 'O King! A very grave great sin has occurred in your kingdom, due to which you have been afflicted by this colic. O King! The fast of Ganesha Chaturthi has completely ceased in your kingdom. It is due to this collective fault that you, a virtuous person, have obtained this trouble.'

The king requested with folded hands, saying, 'O High-souled One! What is this fast, who is worshipped in this fast, and who started this fast in ancient times? Please satisfy my curiosity.'

Parvata Muni said, 'O King! As a result of this Ganeshwara fast, success in all actions and the attainment of the four Purusharthas—Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha—are obtained. This fast is respected throughout the world.' Saying this, the sage described the greatness of the Chaturthi in detail. Hearing the greatness, the king was extremely happy and spoke again to Parvata Muni, 'O Great Sage! How is Lord Ganesha and what is His form like? Please describe His form; I will meditate on His form and worship Him.'

Parvata Muni said, 'O King! I will now describe before you the character related to Lord Ganesha which I have heard in the past; listen carefully. O King! Once I was performing penance with effort, being religious. The entire world became heated by my penance. Due to that penance of mine, King Indra of the deities became extremely agitated. King Indra sent Kamadeva along with apsaras to create obstacles in my penance. But due to the radiance of my penance power, Kamadeva also began to be burnt. At that time, Indra fled from there taking Kamadeva with him. Subsequently, becoming devoted to Shama (calmness) and Dama (self-control), I became introverted. After some time, when my fortune awoke, the supreme knower of the Avadhuta path, Yogiraja Nidagha Rishi, appeared there. I saluted and worshipped him with devotion and said to him, 'O Great Yogi! By obtaining the vision of your holy feet which grant the position of Brahmabhua, my penance and I have become blessed. O Master! Please provide me the knowledge of the peace-bestowing yoga, by the practice of which I may become worshipworthy by the yogis.'

Now Vasishtha Muni says to King Dasaratha, "O King! When Parvata Muni asked this question to that great yogi Nidagha, then the great ascetic Nidagha said to Parvata Muni, 'O Parvata! I describe an ancient account due to which I became worshipworthy even by the great yogis; listen. In former times, I had performed the practice of great yoga. Subsequently, I became established in Swananda, meaning the joy of the soul, which grants eternal bliss with equanimity. O King! At that time, I had a vision of direct bliss, which was pervaded by dualities everywhere and in that duality, that yogi form existed. From that, I obtained peace. Subsequently, I went before Lord Vishnu. Because I had obtained peace but it was in a dual form, hence I fell into a dilemma. I said to Lord Vishnu, 'O Lord! Please be kind enough to provide me the knowledge of the peace-bestowing yoga, so that I may obtain peace.'

The great yogi Lord Vishnu said, 'O Dear! Know Ganesha, who bestows yogic peace. Knowing Him, all of us yogi groups will obtain peace. In His name, the word Gana has the letter Gakara which is endowed with mind and speech, and Nakara which is devoid of mind and speech. He can be known by mind and speech and also not. This is known from the word 'Gana', and His lord (Isha) master is Ganesha. You worship such Lord Ganesha according to the rules, by which you will undoubtedly obtain peace.'

Saying this, Lord Vishnu became silent. Saluting Him, I went to the forest and became absorbed in yoga practice and began to worship Lord Ganesha with the one-letter mantra. On performing sadhana continuously for ten years, Ganapati became pleased with me and suddenly appeared before me. Seeing me absorbed in meditation, Ganesha ji said, 'O वत्स! I am extremely pleased with your sadhana; ask for a desired boon.'

I saluted and worshipped Lord Ganesha and began to praise Him with the hymn from the Samaveda. He became pleased with my praise and, providing me peace, disappeared from there. From that very time, I became a Ganapatya and began to remain daily absorbed in the meditation of Ganesha ji. Therefore, you also worship that Gajanana Ganesha, who bestows supreme peace.' Saying this, Nidagha Muni provided the Mahamanu mantra to Parvata Muni and, describing the procedure for the chanting of the one-letter mantra according to rules, disappeared from there.

Parvata Muni said, 'O King! From that time, I continuously worship Lord Ganesha with devotion. Therefore, by chanting His name, I obtained peace and He gave me vision of His yoga-filled form. I praised Him and He went into His Swananda.' Saying this, Parvata Muni provided the ten-letter mantra of Lord Ganesha, i.e., "Gam Ganapataye Namo Namah," to King Hemangada and disappeared from there."

Vasishtha Muni says, "O Maharaja Dasaratha! After receiving the mantra, King Hemangada first performed the excellent fast of the Phalguna Shukla Paksha Chaturthi. The king made this proclamation everywhere: 'In my kingdom, all humans must mandatorily observe the fast on the Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha of every month.' Subsequently, by the merit of the fast, the king's stomach colic became quiet and all other humans also became free from disease. All humans on the earth became wealthy with food, grains, sons, and grandsons, etc. In the course of time, King Hemangada became completely immersed in the devotion of Ganesha ji and, handing over the throne to his son, attained supreme peace along with his wife and merged into Brahman. Subsequently, other humans also gradually became travelers to Swananda by the glory of the fast."

Vasishtha ji says, "O Best of Kings Dasaratha! Now listen to another greatness related to the Phalguna Shukla Chaturthi. In ancient times, in the city named Bharaka, a Brahmin resided who had corrupted his religion. Since childhood, he used to do only those works which caused trouble to everyone, like violence, theft, and strife. As he aged, he began to commit heinous crimes like murder and rape. He was a woman-luster and would kill wild animals and devour them. To loot wealth, etc., he would also kill humans and Brahmins.

One day that irreligious person was wandering in the forest. He saw a Vaishya coming in the forest. That sinner ran towards that Vaishya with the intention of murder. Seeing that wicked Brahmin coming towards him, that Vaishya-son also began to run and began to call people for help in a loud voice. Hearing his call, four travelers going on the path arrived there. Those four men took that Brahmin captive and handed him over to the soldiers. The soldiers beat him a lot and presented him in the royal court. The king gave the punishment of torturing that wicked person. Subsequently, the soldiers beat him very mercilessly and threw him into a pit.

In the meantime, the Phalguna Shukla Chaturthi arrived, and on that day too, that Brahmin lay there fasting. Due to hunger and the torture of the soldiers, that Brahmin died on the Panchami date. After his death, the messengers of Ganesha ji appeared to take him.

O Best of Kings Dasaratha! The messengers of Lord Ganesha took him to Swanandapur, where having the vision of Ganapati, that sinful Brahmin also became Brahmabhuta. In this way, by the influence of the Chaturthi fast, many humans became Brahmabhuta; it is not possible to describe the greatness of all of them. Therefore, whoever hears or reads the greatness of the Chaturthi fast of the month of Phalguna, the obstacle-destroyer Ganesha ji fulfills all his desires."

|| Thus ends the Phalguna Shukla Chaturthi Mahatmya described in Shri Mudgala Purana ||