Gajanana Sankashti Vrat Katha

The sages humbly asked Lord Kartikeya "O Skanda Kumara! Those who suffer from poverty, sorrow, leprosy, physical disabilities, oppression by enemies, banishment from kingdoms, exile from their homes, perpetual unhappiness, various calamities, lack of knowledge, childlessness, illness, or those who seek their well-being, what should they do to be freed from these hardships and attain prosperity and welfare? If you know of any remedy, kindly describe it to us."

Lord Kartikeya said - "O sages! To address your questions, I shall describe a highly auspicious and beneficial fast. Listen to it with utmost attention. Through the power of this fast, all the troubles of human beings on earth are resolved. It is the most virtuous and supreme of all fasts, bringing success in all endeavors. When women perform this fast, they are blessed with happiness, prosperity, and offspring. Dharmaraja Yudhishthira also observed this fast. During the Pandavas' exile, Lord Shri Krishna taught them about this fast. Yudhishthira, seeking relief from his hardships, posed a question to Lord Shri Krishna, which gave rise to a related story. Let me narrate it to you.

Yudhishthira asked - 'O Purushottama! What is the remedy that can liberate us from our current hardships? O Lord, you are omniscient. Please describe a method that will ensure we never face any suffering in the future.'

After repeated humble requests by Yudhishthira, Lord Shri Krishna said - 'O King! There exists a highly secretive fast that fulfills all desires. O Purushottama! I have never described this fast to anyone until now.' Lord Shri Krishna continued, 'In ancient times, during the Satya Yuga, Goddess Parvati , the daughter of the Mountain King Himachala, performed intense penance in a dense forest to fulfill Her wish of marrying Lord Shiva . Despite long and arduous austerities, Lord Shiva did not appear before Her. Subsequently, Devi Parvati meditated on Lord Ganesha , as a result of which Lord Ganesha instantly appeared before Her."

On witnessing Lord Ganesha's divine presence, Devi Parvati humbly inquired - 'I have undertaken a rare, arduous and awe-inspiring penance, yet I have not succeeded in attaining my beloved Lord Shiva. Narada Ji once described a miraculous and obstacle-removing fast. Kindly reveal to me the essence of this divine fast so that I may fulfill my desire.' Listening to the words of Devi Parvati, Lord Ganesha, the bestower of success, lovingly began to describe the divine, obstacle-removing and auspicious fast in great detail.

Lord Ganesha said - 'O Mother! You must observe this highly virtuous and obstacle-removing fast. By following this fast, all your desires will be fulfilled. Not just you, but anyone who performs this fast will also achieve success. O Divine One! On the night of Krishna Chaturthi of Shravana month (Amanta Ashadha month), during the rise of the Moon, one should perform Puja and Archana. On that day, after completing morning routines, the devotee should resolve - "I will fast until Moonrise. I will worship Lord Ganesha first and then partake in food." With such a resolve, one should commit to the fast. Subsequently, take a bath using water mixed with white sesame seeds. After daily routines are completed, devotees should proceed with my worship. If feasible, one should offer worship to a golden idol every month; if not, then worship a silver, Ashtadhatu, or even a clay idol.

Fill a Kalasha made of gold, silver, copper or clay with water according to your capacity, and place Lord Ganesha's idol on top of it. Adorn the idol and Kalasha with clothing, and create a design resembling a lotus with eight petals as a foundation for the idol. After establishing the idol, conduct the Shodashopachara Puja with devotion. Following the rituals, offer various food items to Lord Ganesha as part of Bhoga. O Devi, prepare fifteen Laddus with pure Desi Ghee. Dedicate these to Lord Ganesha and distribute five Laddus to a Brahmin along with suitable offerings. At Moonrise, offer Arghya with devotion, and thereafter consume five Laddus yourself.

Following this, O Devi, offer the Arghya on Chaturthi Tithi with these words - "You are the most supreme among all Tithis and the beloved of Lord Ganesha. O Chaturthi, accept the Arghya offered by us. We bow to you in reverence."

Offer the Arghya to the Chandra with these words - "O Chandra, born of the ocean of milk and brother to Devi Lakshmi! O Night-maker, adorned with Rohini! Please accept the Arghya offered by me."

Offer your respects to Lord Ganesha with these words - "O Lambodara! Ganapati! Ganesha! You are the fulfiller of all desires. I bow to you repeatedly. O remover of obstacles, please grant the fulfillment of my wishes."

Afterwards, offer praise to the Brahmin with these words - "O revered Dwija Raja! I bow to you, for you are the embodiment of divinity. For Lord Ganesha's happiness, we offer these Laddus to you. Please accept these five Laddus along with the offerings as a blessing for our welfare. We humbly salute you." Following this, host a feast for the Brahmin and conclude by praying earnestly before Lord Ganesha.

If one is unable to perform the above-mentioned rituals and ceremonies, they may partake in curd and the offerings dedicated during the puja along with their family members. After offering prayers, immerse the idol, and present the idol to your Guru along with food grains, clothing, donations, etc., as per your capacity. Perform the immersion with these words - "O Supreme among the Gods, Shri Ganesha Ji! Kindly return to your abode and bless us with the virtuous rewards of this fast and worship."

O Devi, thus one should observe the Ganesha Chaturthi fast throughout their life. If observing it lifelong is not feasible, one should perform the fast for a year, completing twelve months' worth of fasts. If even that is beyond capacity, then fasting during one specific month of the year is essential, culminating in the conclusion of the fast on Shravana Chaturthi."

Lord Shri Krishna said - "O Yudhishthira! In ancient times, Lord Ganesha himself had imparted the knowledge of this fast to Devi Parvati, who worshipped in the same manner and attained success. It was through the power of this fast that Devi Parvati's marriage to Lord Shiva was accomplished. Therefore, O Dharmaraja Yudhishthira! You too should observe this crisis-removing fast. This Sankata Chaturthi is supremely auspicious and brings immense blessings."

Skandakumara said - "O Maharishi! Listening to the greatness of the Sankatanashaka Chaturthi fast as narrated by Lord Shri Krishna, Yudhishthira, aspiring to reclaim his kingdom, observed this fast. Through the power of this fast, he defeated all his enemies and successfully regained his kingdom. Observing this fast leads to the attainment of the four goals of life: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. It fulfills all aspirations and empowers the individual to influence great rulers and authorities. In situations of intense crises, performing this fast; resolves all hardships effectively. Lord Hanumana observed this fast during His search for Goddess Sita . In ancient times, Lanka's king Ravana performed this fast after being tormented by King Bali . Gautama Rishi 's wife, Ahilya , observed it while cursed and separated from her husband. The fruits of this fast are manifold—it grants knowledge to students, wealth to seekers of riches, offspring to those desiring children, and freedom from ailments to the sick. Through Lord Ganesha's blessings, those who observe this fast are absolved of all sins. It is a powerful and transformative practice."

॥Iti Shri Gajanana Sankashti Chaturthi Katha Sampurnah॥