Durva Ganapati Chaturthi Vrat Katha

King Dasaratha said to Guru Vasishtha, "O Guruvar! My mind is not satisfied after hearing the greatness of this Chaturthi which bestows the position of Brahman. Therefore, O Sage! Please be kind enough to describe the greatness of the boon-bestowing Shravana Shukla Chaturthi."

Vasishtha Muni said, "O King! In the Anga region, there was a city named Shatatara. In that city, a king named Ashwasena ruled religiously. King Ashwasena was extremely brave, courageous, and valorous. He performed various types of charities, fasts, and other religious activities and was dear to the deities, Brahmins, and guests. By the strength of his warfare art and weapon science, he had conquered the entire world. That king became established as the sovereign (Sarvabhauma), meaning the king of the entire world. The king's fame was shining in all the three worlds. He had subdued all other kings through his physical strength, and all those kings became servants of Ashwasena and paid him taxes. In this way, he had brought the entire earth under his control.

In the course of time, once King Ashwasena was afflicted by a very burning fever. Due to the pain of the fever, the king could not even sleep at night. Various types of methods were used for the king's treatment, but the king did not get freedom from that fever. In this way, one year passed while he suffered from the fever. Due to the fever, the king became extremely weak and only bones and skin remained in his body. Subsequently, becoming very distressed, King Ashwasena decided to give up his life by consuming poison. At that very time, suddenly the best among yogis, Rishi Devala, appeared there. Seeing Devala Muni there, the king bowed to him and worshipped him along with his kinsmen and offered food, etc., to the sage.

After the sage accepted food, etc., the king bowed and requested him, 'O Sage! Today, by obtaining your vision, my life has become blessed. The activities like Japa, Tapa, Yajna, Havana, and charity performed by me have become successful. O Sage! I am extremely suffering from a grave fever; this pain has become so much that now I had decided to drink poison, but at that very time, O Sage! I have obtained your holy vision. If my life ended by drinking poison, I would not have attained liberation but suicide. Merely as a result of your vision, I will be liberated and attain the supreme abode.' Saying this, the king began to wail while weeping.

Subsequently, becoming serious, Devala Muni, the knower of all scriptures, said to King Ashwasena, 'O King! The excellent fast named Chaturthi has ceased in your kingdom. Due to the disappearance of that fast, you have become diseased and you will suffer torture in hell after death. O King! This fast is considered to provide the four substances, i.e., Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, and by not observing this fast, all actions will become devoid of fruits. O King! Your many great merits will become devoid of the four substances in the absence of the Chaturthi fast. Meaning, apart from the Chaturthi fast, no other fast is a provider of these four Purusharthas—Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.'

Saying this, Rishi Devala narrated a story related to the Chaturthi fast to the king, hearing which the king said to the sage, 'I have heard the wonderful greatness of the Chaturthi fast from your holy mouth. O Great Sage! Please be kind enough to describe the greatness of Lord Ganesha.'

O King! Mahamuni Devala said, 'I am incapable of describing the greatness of Lord Ganesha. I will describe the form of Ganesha ji endowed with attributes, as I have heard from the holy mouth of my father, Asita Muni. I am now describing the complete greatness which bestows success in all works and reveals Brahmayoga.

In former times, I was performing penance; at that same time, the Shaiva follower, the great yogi Maharishi Jaigishavya, appeared there. I respectfully honored and worshipped Rishi Jaigishavya and began to praise him. Subsequently, becoming silent, he took his seat in my ashram. Worshipping him properly and bowing before him, I said to that yogi, 'O Great Yogi! Cross this bad disciple of yours over the ocean of existence. O Repository of Mercy! I am trapped in the delusion of this world; please be kind enough to free me from this delusion.'

Jaigishavya Muni said, 'O Sage! You are a holder of effort, therefore do not perform violent actions and, through the knowledge of Aham Brahmasmi! (I am Brahman!), becoming devoted to Shama (calmness) and Dama (self-control), become a subduer of the senses and their silencer. Worship that which is under the control of your command. As a result of this, you will undoubtedly become a yogi in the entire world.'

Saying this, Jaigishavya Muni disappeared, and I, giving up violence, became established in yoga according to his command. Subsequently, my parents began to say with intense crying, 'Alas! Devala, giving up his duties (Karma), is neglecting us. When Devala has given up all duties, then who will now nourish us? Now we have become supportless, being endowed with hunger and thirst. Who will now provide us food and water?' Seeing my parents in this condition, I became sorrowful and I became ready to perform my duties. Subsequently, I sought refuge with my father Asita, who is praised and worshipped by the great yogis. I saluted Maharishi Asita and asked him about the eternal Brahman, full of yogic peace.

Thereafter, Rishi Asita spoke to me, 'O Son! You daily meditate with respect on Lord Ganesha, whom the yogis always call the form of yoga and provide peace. Because in Ganesha ji, both union (Samyoga) and dissociation (Ayoga) are inherent. In the word 'Gana', the letter Gakara is indicative of union and Nakara is indicative of dissociation, and in the union of both, Lord Ganesha is known by the wise.' Saying this, my father, a devotee of the pleasant-souled Ganapati, provided me with the one-letter mantra of Lord Ganesha and commanded me to worship Ganesha ji.

O King! Thereafter, saluting him, I went to my ashram and, meditating on Lord Ganapati there, began to worship and chant His name. As a result of Ganesha's worship, in a short time, I attained peace and became worshipworthy by the yogis, meaning the yogis also began to worship me. Subsequently, I began to remain continuously absorbed in the worship of Ganesha ji. After one year passed, the devotee-loving Lord Ganesha gave me vision. I happily praised and worshipped Ganesha ji. Making me a Ganapatya like his father, i.e., making me His devotee, that Master of Brahman, Lambodara, went to His Swanandakapur abode.'

Saying this, Devala Muni provided the ten-letter mantra of Lord Ganesha to King Ashwasena and disappeared from there. Subsequently, the king became absorbed in the worship of Lord Ganesha. After some time, the Shravana Shukla Paksha Chaturthi date arrived. At that time, the king observed the Chaturthi fast according to the rules with his entire subjects and performed the breaking of the fast on the Panchami date. Subsequently, as a result of Ganesha's worship, King Ashwasena obtained freedom from that terrible fever and burning sensation. In his kingdom, all humans became free from disease, healthy, and endowed with sons, grandsons, and wealth and grain. The king made the Chaturthi fast famous throughout the entire world, and all humans on the earth began to observe the fast on the Chaturthi of both the Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha.

Subsequently, the king attained peace. Becoming devoted to peace, the king handed over his kingdom to his son and, while living in seclusion, began to worship Lord Ganesha with his wife. Finally, the king became an inhabitant of Swananda and merged into Brahman. Subsequently, all humans gradually became merged into Brahman.'

Vasishtha Muni said, 'O Dasharatha! In this way, I have narrated to you the greatness of the all-success-bestowing Chaturthi fast. Now, O King! Listen to another story related to this fast.

In the Gujarat region, a weak Kshatriya who performed sinful deeds resided. That irreligious Kshatriya used to do various types of sinful deeds from childhood. He was involved in acts like raping women, drinking alcohol, and eating meat. Even once he killed his guru and fled into the forest after looting all his wealth. In this way, he performed various types of contemptible sinful deeds in his life. Once that wicked Kshatriya was suffering from a terrible fever. That low person became very anxious with the fever. By divine coincidence, at that same time, the Shravana Shukla Paksha Chaturthi date arrived. On that day, he did not receive any type of food or water. Therefore, his Chaturthi fast was completed even in ignorance, and on the Panchami date, he accepted some food with love. Therefore, by the influence of the Chaturthi fast, that sinner also became free from disease, but he did not give up sinful deeds and continued to perform misdeeds.

In the course of time, that sinner died, and by the meritorious influence of the fast performed in ignorance, the messengers of Lord Ganesha came to take that sinner. The messengers of Ganesha ji took that wicked Kshatriya and made him Brahmabhuta. Therefore, O King! When that wicked Kshatriya attained Swananda by the merit of the fast performed in ignorance, then those who will observe this Chaturthi fast with knowledge will surely attain Swananda and be merged into Brahman. In this way, many humans became merged into Brahman by the meritorious influence of the Chaturthi fast.'

Vasishtha Muni said, 'O King! This greatness of the Shravani Chaturthi fast which I have described is the boon-bestowing Chaturthi, and the person who hears or reads this greatness will obtain all desired fruits.'

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