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Sankatahara Chaturthi
Sankatahara Chaturthi also known as Sankashti Chaturthi is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This day is observed in every Lunar month of Hindu calendar on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (dark lunar phase or the waning phase). Sankatahara Chaturthi fast is mostly observed in Western and Southern India especially in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Types of Chaturthi
- Sankatahara Chaturthi: Sankat means problem and Chaturthi means fourth state. It is said that one can overcome all the problems doing this vrata. Chaturthi which comes after Purnima or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankatahara Chaturthi or Sankat Chauth.
- Vinayaka Chaturthi: Chaturthi which falls after Amavasya or new moon i.e. during Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi.
- Angarak Chaturthi: When Chaturthi falls on Tuesday, it is called Angarak Chaturthi. Tuesday is Ganesha’s favorite day, so Angarak Chaturthi is considered highly auspicious.
- Maagh Krishna Chaturthi: It is a day to offer Naivedya of Til and Gud Laddoo (sesame seeds and jaggery balls) to Lord Ganesha. It is believed that by worshipping him on this day he takes care of the family the whole year.
- Bhadrapada Krishna Chaturthi: The most significant and famous of all chaturthis is the Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha Chaturthi. It is considered as the birthday of Lord Ganesha (Ganesh Chaturthi).
Devotees of Lord Ganesha keep fast from sunrise to moonrise on Sankatahara Chaturthi. Sankatahara means deliverance during troubled times. Lord Ganesha, the supreme lord of intelligence, symbolizes the remover of all obstacles. Hence it is believed that one can get rid of all obstacles by observing this fast. Devotees break the fast at night after sighting of the moon.
During each month, Lord Ganesha is worshiped with a different name and peeta (seat). On the Sankatahara Chaturthi day of each month, the ‘Sankashta Ganapathi Pooja’ prayer is performed. Each ‘Vratha’ (strict fast) has a purpose and is explained to us by a story known as the ‘Vratha Katha’. This prayer offering has 13 Vratha Kathas, one for each month and the 13th story is for ‘adhika’ (The Hindu calendar has one extra month every 4 years). The uniqueness of this Vratha is that the story pertaining to that month alone has to be recited.
The Sankasta Ganapathi Pooja – 13 Names and Peetas
| Month |
Name of Ganesha of which the pooja is performed |
Name of the peeta |
| Chaitra Masa |
Vikata Maha Ganapati |
Vinayaka Peeta |
| Vaishakha Masa |
Chanakra Raja Ekadanta Ganapathi |
Srichakra Peeta |
| Jyeshtha Masa |
Krishna Pingala Maha Ganapati |
Sri Shakthi Ganapathi Peeta |
| Ashadha Masa |
Gajaanana Ganapati |
Vishnu Peeta |
| Shravana Masa |
Heramba Maha Ganapati |
Ganapathi Peeta |
| Bhadrapada Masa |
Vignaraja Maha Ganapati |
Vigneshwara Peeta |
| Ashvina Masa |
Vakrathunda Maha Ganapati |
Bhuvaneshwari Peeta |
| Kartika Masa |
Ganadipa Maha Ganapati |
Shiva Peeta |
| Margashira Masa |
Akuratha Maha Ganapati |
Durga Peeta |
| Pausha Masa |
Lambodara Maha Ganapati |
Soura Peeta |
| Magha Masa |
Dwijapriya Maha Ganapati |
Samanya deva Peeta |
| Phalguna Masa |
Balachandra Maha Ganapati |
Agama Peeta |
| Adhika Masa |
Vibhuvana Palaka Maha Ganapati |
Doorva Bilva Patra Peeta |
It is believed that Lord Ganesha bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this day. It is the day Lord Shiva declared his son Ganesha as superior to all the Gods.
Spiritual Significance of Chaturthi
Chaturthi is the fourth digital phase of the waxing moon. Spiritually the four days from Amavaysa to Chaturthi are compared with four different stages of consciousness i.e. ‘Swapna’, ‘Swaap’, ‘Jagaran’ and ‘Chetana’. These stages are stage of dream, hangover, awakening and consciousness. So the most conscious stage after getting up is the fourth stage in which all senses are fully alert. Hence this stage enables us to fully concentrate with total devotion. It is for this reason that Lord Ganesha is worshipped on the Chaturthi Day.
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