Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi

Sankata means problems and Hara means removing and therefore Sankatahara Chaturthi is a day to invoke Lord Ganesha’s blessings to remove all problems in life. Sankatahara Chaturthi vratam is very auspicious to convert ones problems into opportunities.

Chaturthi tithi which comes in Krishna paksha in lunar month Sravana is Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi. It falls 15 days before Ganesh Chaturthi.

Significance of Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi

The Ganapatyam lists 32 iconic forms of Lord Ganesha of which 16 are considered to be the most popular. They are not different Ganeshas but personification of his various aspects and attributes. In each aspect Ganesha is shown with specific color, shape, posture and a variety of objects in his hands. During each month, Lord Ganesha is worshipped with a different name and peeta (seat). Lord Ganesha is worshipped as Heramba Maha Ganapathi and the peeta is Ganapathi Peeta for Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi. Heramba Ganapathi is a five-headed iconographical form of Lord Ganesha. This form is particularly popular in Nepal.

Spiritual Significance of Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi

The Brahma Vivarta Purana explains the meaning of Heramba: the syllable “He” denotes helplessness or weakness, while “ramba” is protection of the weak. Thus Heramba means the “Protector of the weak”. Heramba also has the power to confer fearlessness. Worshipping this form is believed to give confidence to the weak and knowledge to achieve their tasks. Praying to God everyday will help devotees overcome fear.

Heramba is described as having five elephant heads, four facing the cardinal directions while the fifth at the top looking upwards and ten hands. The colors of Heramba’s heads closely relate to four aspects of his father Lord Shiva. The five heads symbolize his power. The God rides his vahana, a mighty lion. The lion, represents the deity’s royalty and fierce nature. The lion is said to be inherited from his mother Parvathi, who often rides it. The Abhya mudra depicted in his right hand bestows blessing and the main left hand grants wishes. On the other hands God holds a noose, japa beads mala (Rudrashaka), a battle axe, a battle hammer, his broken tusk as a weapon, garland, a fruit and his favorite sweet Modaka.

It is very rare to find an exclusive temple for Heramba Ganapathi Temple. This form is worshipped in Kasi Vishwanath Temple in Banaras, Uttar Pradesh.