Vighneshvara Chaturthi Vrat Katha

King Dasharatha said to Vashishtha Muni, "O Best among sages! You described the fast of the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the bright fortnight of the month of Margashirsha. O Best among gurus! I am completely satisfied with your description. Now, O Gurudeva! Please be kind enough to describe the greatness (Mahatmya) of the boon-granting Chaturthi of the month of Pausha."

Vashishtha Muni said, "O King! Now I am briefly describing the greatness of the Chaturthi fast of the bright fortnight of the month of Pausha, because describing it in detail is not possible for anyone on the Earthly world."

Starting the story, Vashishtha Muni said, "There is an account of former times, in the city of Avanti, a great and religious Brahmin used to reside, whose name was Sudanta. Sudanta was extremely knowledgeable, ethical, and expert in all scriptures. His wife was also extremely devoted to her husband and virtuous, whose name was Vilasini. Sudanta was the chief priest of King Brihadratha and used to guide the king to rule according to Dharma. King Brihadratha used to act according to the command of Sudanta and, remaining under his command, used to protect the earth religiously.

Although there was no lack of any material object in Sudanta's life, due to the fault of past deeds (Karmadosha), his wife had remained barren, i.e., they had no children. His children used to meet death as soon as they were born. To remove this defect, he performed various types of fasts, charities, and other religious acts, but he did not obtain the happiness of a child. Subsequently, being distressed, the Brahmin along with his virtuous wife went to the forest. After wandering in the forest for a long time, that Brahmin, wishing for death, became absorbed in penance.

At the time when Sudanta was absorbed in penance, at that same time, the worshipful Mahamuni Vamadeva ji of the yogis arrived there. Seeing Vamadeva ji, Sudanta prostrated and saluted him and performed worship, etc. Subsequently, Sudanta said, 'O Vamadeva! By obtaining the vision of your most holy lotus feet, I, my condition, and my knowledge, etc., all have become blessed.'

Thereafter, Brahmin Sudanta again said, 'O Best among sages! I am childless! Now what will be my state? O Best among yogis! Please be kind enough to tell what is the state of a childless person after death.'

Vamadeva ji said, 'O Best among Brahmins! Listen! You have always followed the path of Dharma. But listen to the reason for your being sinful. You are the priest of the King of Avanti, Brihadratha, therefore, the sin that he has committed, the same sin you have also committed. Due to the disappearance of the Chaturthi fast on the entire Earthly world, all the earth-dwellers have become devoid of the four goals of life (Purusharthas): Dharma (Duty), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desire), and Moksha (Liberation). Although the king and you have completely followed Dharma, due to the disappearance of the Chaturthi fast, you have obtained this sorrow.'

Hearing these words from the holy mouth of Vamadeva ji, Brahmin Sudanta, praying, said, 'O Father! What kind of fast is this? How is this fast a means for the four goals of life, and how does a man who does not follow this fast become fruitless? Please be kind enough to describe this profitable fast.'

Vashishtha Muni said, "O Dasharatha! On such questioning by Sudanta, Yogindra Vamadeva ji described the entire greatness of the Chaturthi fast in detail. Hearing the greatness, Sudanta became astonished. Subsequently, to understand Lord Ganesha, Sudanta happily asked Vamadeva ji again, 'O Great Sage! How is this Ganadhisha Lord Ganesha? Please describe His form. By understanding His form, I will meditate on Him every day.'

Vamadeva ji said, 'O Best among Brahmins Sudanta! You listen to the excellent knowledge of Ganesha ji, by which you will become a devotee of Lord Ganapati. In former times, I had performed fierce penance for Ganesha ji. O Great Fortunate One! I had performed such fierce penance that by the influence of my penance, the entire moveing and non-moving creation was pervaded. By restraining my restless senses, I had also gained victory over the mind. But even after doing all this, when I did not obtain peace anywhere, then bowing down, I went to the refuge of Lord Shiva, the worshipful deity of the yogis.'

Lord Shiva asked me, 'O Vamadeva! What is the purpose of your arrival here? You, being free from worry, describe the entire account, I will surely do your benefit.' I, making a folded-hand request, said to Lord Shiva, 'O Mahadeva! Please be kind enough to tell me the path to obtain complete yogic peace.'

Now Muni Vashishtha said to King Dasharatha, "O King! Hearing Mahayogi Vamadeva ji's question, Lord Shiva, the knower of all yogas and of Ganapatya nature, again said to Mahamuni Vamadeva ji, 'O Best among sages! You consider Lord Ganesha to be the provider of complete yogic peace. When the realization of the Self happens, then know the knowledge obtained from the letter Ga. The knowledge of the letter Na is obtained by man from renunciation (Nivritti). The lord of both letters "Ga" and "Na" is Lord Ganesha, who is called the form of Yoga. He is the provider of peace even to peace.'

Saying this, Lord Shiva provided the one-syllable mantra (Ekakshara Mantra) to Mahamuni Vamadeva ji with complete rules and procedures. Subsequently, saluting Shiva ji, I went to the forest and began to worship Lord Ganesha with devotion. Being pleased by my one-syllable ritual, Lord Ganesha provided me with yogic peace. Thereafter, I became established in the entire world as a Yogi. Nevertheless, I continued to meditate on and worship Lord Ganesha with faith.

After ten years passed, Lord Ganesha arrived at my ashram to provide me a boon and, thundering like clouds, said, 'O Vamadeva! I am extremely pleased with your practice, therefore, ask for the desired boon. O Mahayogi! I will fulfill all your desires because I am satisfied with your worship.' Hearing these sweet words from the holy mouth of Ganesha ji, I stood up from meditation and, saluting Ganesha ji and performing His worship, began to sing praises (Stuti).

Being pleased by the praises, Ganesha ji again asked me to ask for a boon, upon which I, bowing, said, 'O Elephant-faced Ganesha! Please provide me Your Ganapatyamaya devotion. Other than this, I have no other desire. O Lord! If You are pleased with me, then as a boon, please be kind enough to provide Your devotion forever.' Lord Ganesha saying "Tathastu!" (So be it) disappeared from there, and I became an exclusive devotee of that Ganapati. O Best among Brahmins! From that very time, I obtained peace in this world. That is why you worship that Ganapati, by this you will surely obtain peace. Subsequently, Vamadeva ji provided the one-syllable mantra to Sudanta with complete rules and procedures and disappeared from there."

Vashishtha ji says, "O King! After obtaining the mantra, Brahmin Sudanta returned to his city and narrated the entire account to King Brihadratha. At the command of Sudanta, the king announced the Chaturthi fast in the entire kingdom. Thereafter, being honored by the king, Sudanta began to worship Ganesha ji continuously. There, first the Chaturthi date of the bright fortnight of the month of Pausha arrived. The king followed that fast along with all the subjects and dear ones. As a result of that fast, Sudanta's virtuous wife became pregnant and she gave birth to an extremely handsome and long-lived son.

After this sequence of events, on the entire Earthly world, men followed the excellent fast of Ganesha ji on both the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight Chaturthi. By the influence of that fast, the entire subjects became disease-free, happy, and prosperous with wealth and grains. In the end, everyone attained Svananda (self-bliss). The king's priest Sudanta also became worshipful of all yogis through yogic service. All yogis began to salute and honor him. King Brihadratha also began to perform devotion and worship of Lord Ganesha."

Vashishtha ji says, "O King Dasharatha! This fast of Pausha Shukla Paksha Chaturthi, which fulfills all desires, has been described by me. Now, O Giver of Honor! Again listen to another greatness related to this fast. In former times, there was an extremely stingy and greedy Vaishya (merchant). That Vaishya, despite being greedy, was extremely hard-working. Once, thieves came to his house. The thieves wounded the Vaishya with the strike of a weapon and stole all his wealth and accumulated savings. By the strike of the weapon made by the thieves, the Vaishya fell to the ground. When the Vaishya's unconsciousness broke, he, being distressed, went to the forest and began to lament loudly there.

By divine coincidence, that day was the Chaturthi of the bright fortnight of Pausha. On that day, the Vaishya did not accept food and water, etc., due to sorrow and remained completely without food (Nirahara). At night, due to pain, sleep did not come to him, due to which his awakening (Jagaran) happened. Due to that same pain, on the Panchami date, that greedy Vaishya met his end.

O King! In this way, in ignorance itself, the fast of that wealth-greedy Vaishya was completed. As a result of which, he, obtaining the vision of Lord Ganesha in Svananda, became Brahmabhuta (unified with the Absolute). By the influence of this merit-filled fast, many men, after enjoying worldly pleasures, became free from the ocean of the world. It is impossible to describe the glory of this fast. That is why the one who listens to or reads this greatness of the Pausha Shukla Chaturthi fast, all his desires are fulfilled."

|| In this way, the greatness of the Pausha Shukla Chaturthi fast described in Shrimudgalapurana is completed. || �णेश जी के उत्तम ज्ञान का श्रवण करो, जिसके द्वारा तुम भगवान गणपति के भक्त हो जाओगे। पूर्वकाल में मैंने गणेश जी के लिये घोर तप किया था। हे महाभाग! मैंने इस प्रकार घोर तप किया था कि मेरे तप के प्रभाव से समस्त चराचर सृष्टि व्याप्त हो गयी थी। मैंने अपनी चञ्चल इन्द्रियों का दमन करके मन पर भी विजय प्राप्त कर ली थी। परन्तु इतना सब करने पर भी जब मुझे कहीं शान्ति प्राप्त नहीं हुयी तो मैं नतमस्तक होकर योगियों के आराध्य भगवान शिव की शरण में गया।'

भगवान शिव ने मुझसे पूछा कि - 'हे वामदेव! आपके यहाँ पधारने का क्या प्रयोजन है? आप निश्चिन्त होकर सम्पूर्ण वृत्तान्त वर्णित करें, मैं अवश्य आपका हित करूँगा।' मैं करबद्ध निवेदन करते हुये भगवान शिव से बोला - 'हे महादेव! मुझे पूर्ण योगशान्ति प्राप्त करने का मार्ग बताने की कृपा करें।'"

अब मुनि वशिष्ठ ने राजा दशरथ से कहा कि - "हे राजन्! महायोगी वामदेव जी का प्रश्न सुनकर सभी योगों के ज्ञाता एवं गाणपत्य प्रवृत्ति वाले भगवान शिव पुनः महामुनि वामदेव जी से बोले - 'हे मुनिवर! आप भगवान गणेश को पूर्ण योगशान्ति प्रदान करने वाला समझो। जब स्वयं का बोध हो जाये तो गकार अक्षर से प्राप्त होने वाले ज्ञान को जानो। णकार अक्षर का ज्ञान मनुष्य को निवृत्ति से प्राप्त होता है। दोनों अक्षर "ग" एवं "ण" के स्वामी भगवान गणेश हैं, जिन्हें योगरूप कहा गया है। वे शान्ति को भी शान्ति प्रदान करने वाले हैं।'

ऐसा कहकर भगवान शिव ने महामुनि वामदेव जी को पूर्ण विधि-विधान से एकाक्षर मन्त्र प्रदान कर दिया। तदुपरान्त शिव जी को प्रणाम करके मैं वन में जाकर भक्तिपूर्वक भगवान गणेश की आराधना करने लगा। मेरे एकाक्षर विधान से भगवान गणेश ने प्रसन्न होकर मुझे योगशान्ति प्रदान की। तत्पश्चात् मैं समस्त संसार में योगी के रूप में प्रतिष्ठित हो गया। तथापि मैं निरन्तर श्रद्धापूर्वक भगवान गणेश का ध्यान एवं पूजन करता रहा।

दश वर्ष व्यतीत होने के उपरान्त भगवान गणेश मेरे आश्रम पर मुझे वर प्रदान करने हेतु पधारे तथा मेघों के समान गर्जना करते हुये बोले - 'हे वामदेव! मैं तुम्हारी साधना से अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हूँ, अतः मनोवाञ्छित वर माँगो। हे महायोगी! मैं तुम्हारी समस्त कामनाओं की पूर्ति करूँगा, क्योंकि मैं तुम्हारी उपासना से सन्तुष्ट हूँ।' गणेश जी के श्रीमुख से इन मधुर वचनों को सुनकर मैं ध्यान से उठकर खड़ा हो गया तथा गणेश जी को प्रणाम एवं उनका पूजन करके स्तुति करने लगा।

स्तुति से प्रसन्न होकर गणेश जी ने पुनः वरदान माँगने को कहा जिसपर मैंने नमन करते हुये कहा - 'हे गजानन गणेश! आप मुझे अपनी गाणपत्यमय भक्ति प्रदान कीजिये। इसके अतिरिक्त मेरी कोई अन्य कामना नहीं है। हे प्रभो! यदि आप मुझसे प्रसन्न हैं तो मुझे वरदान स्वरूप सदा-सर्वदा हेतु अपनी भक्ति प्रदान करने की कृपा करें।' भगवान गणेश "तथास्तु!" कहकर वहाँ से अन्तर्धान हो गये तथा मैं उन गणपति का अनन्य भक्त हो गया। हे विप्रवर! उसी समय से मैंने इस संसार में शान्ति प्राप्त कर ली। इसीलिये तुम उन गणपति का भजन करो, इससे तुम्हें अवश्य ही शान्ति प्राप्त होगी। तदुपरान्त वामदेव जी ने पूर्ण विधि-विधान से सुदन्त को एकाक्षर मन्त्र प्रदान किया तथा वहाँ से अन्तर्धान हो गये।"

वशिष्ठ जी कहते हैं - "हे राजन्! मन्त्र प्राप्त कर ब्राह्मण सुदन्त अपने नगर को लौट गया तथा राजा बृहद्रथ को सम्पूर्ण वृत्तान्त सुना दिया। राजा ने सुदन्त की आज्ञा से सम्पूर्ण राज्य में चतुर्थी व्रत की घोषणा कर दी। तदनन्तर सुदन्त राजा द्वारा सम्मानित होकर निरन्तर गणेश जी का भजन करने लगा। वहाँ सर्वप्रथम पौष मास के शुक्लपक्ष की चतुर्थी तिथि आयी। राजा ने सम्पूर्ण प्रजा एवं प्रियजनों सहित उस व्रत का पालन किया। उस व्रत के फलस्वरूप सुदन्त की धर्मपत्नी गर्भवती हो गयी तथा उसने एक अत्यन्त सुन्दर एवं दीर्घायु पुत्र को जन्म दिया।

इस घटनाक्रम के उपरान्त समस्त भूलोक पर मनुष्यों ने शुक्लपक्ष एवं कृष्णपक्ष दोनों चतुर्थी पर गणेश जी के श्रेष्ठ व्रत का पालन किया। उस व्रत के प्रभाव से सम्पूर्ण प्रजा निरोगी, सुखी तथा धन-धान्य से सम्पन्न हो गयी। अन्त में सभी स्वानन्द को प्राप्त हो गये। राजा के पुरोहित सुदन्त भी योग सेवा द्वारा सभी योगियों के पूजनीय हो गये। सभी योगी उनका उनकी वन्दना एवं सम्मान करने लगे। राजा बृहद्रथ भी भगवान गणेश की भक्ति एवं आराधना करने लगे।"

वशिष्ठ जी कहते हैं - "हे राजन् दशरथ! यह पौष शुक्लपक्ष चतुर्थी का समस्त मनोरथ सिद्ध करने वाला व्रत मैंने वर्णित किया है। अब हे मानद! पुनः इस व्रत से सम्बन्धित एक अन्य माहात्म्य का श्रवण करें। पूर्वकाल में एक अत्यन्त कृपण एवं धन का लोभी वैश्य था। वह वैश्य लोभी होते हुये भी अत्यन्त परिश्रमी था। एक समय उसके घर पर चोर आ गये। चोरों ने शस्त्र के प्रहार से वैश्य को हताहत कर दिया तथा उसकी समस्त धन-सम्पदा एवं जमा-पूँजी को चुरा ले गये। चोरों द्वारा किये गये शस्त्राघात से वैश्य धराशायी हो गया। जब वैश्य की मूर्छा भङ्ग हुयी तो वह व्यथित होकर वन में चला गया तथा वहाँ तीव्र विलाप करने लगा।

दैवयोग से उस दिन पौष शुक्लपक्ष की चतुर्थी थी। उस दिन वैश्य ने दुःख के कारण अन्न-जल आदि भी ग्रहण नहीं किया तथा पूर्णतः निराहार रहा। रात्रि में पीड़ा के कारण उसे निद्रा नहीं आयी जिससे उसका जागरण हो गया। उसी पीड़ा के कारण पञ्चमी तिथि पर उस लोभी वैश्य का प्राणान्त हो गया।

हे राजन्! इस प्रकार अज्ञानता में ही उस धनलुब्धी वैश्य का व्रत सम्पन्न हो गया। जिसके फलस्वरूप वह स्वानन्द में भगवान गणेश का दर्शन प्राप्त कर ब्रह्मभूत हो गया। इस पुण्यशाली व्रत के प्रभाव से अनेकों मनुष्य लौकिक भोगों को भोगकर संसार-सागर से मुक्त हो गये। इस व्रत की महिमा का वर्णन करना असम्भव है। अतः इस पौष शुक्ल चतुर्थी व्रत के माहात्म्य का जो श्रवण एवं पाठ करता है, उसके समस्त मनोरथ सिद्ध होते हैं।"

॥इस प्रकार श्रीमुद्गलपुराण में वर्णित पौष शुक्ल चतुर्थी व्रत माहात्म्य सम्पूर्ण होता है॥