Sankashti Chaturthi Overview
The 4th day in every lunar month of the Hindu calendar is designated as Sankashti Chaturthi, also known as Sankatahara Chaturthi or Sakat chauth, which is devoted to Lord Ganesha. Sankashti Chaturthi is the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha (the dark lunar phase or the waning fortnight of the moon). This Chaturthi is known as Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi if it happens on a Tuesday. Among all Sankashti Chaturthi days, Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi is regarded as being of utmost importance.
Sankashti Chaturthi Dates 2022
21 January, Friday
20 February, Sunday
21 March, Monday
19 April, Tuesday
19 May, Thursday
17 June, Friday
16 July, Saturday
15 August, Monday
13 September, Tuesday
13 October, Thursday
12 November, Saturday
11 December, Sunday
Sankashti Chaturthi Significance
Devotees keep a stringent fast on this day. After having a darshan (auspicious sight of the moon) and offering prayers to the God of Gods Ganesha, they break their fast at night. The Angaraki Chaturthi is named after the planet Mars because it falls on a Tuesday. Devotees believe that by praying on this day, their wishes will come true.
Since Ganesha is the supreme lord of intelligence and the remover of all obstacles, keeping this fast is thought to help with their life issues. To invoke Lord Ganesha’s blessings, the Ganapati Atharvasheersha is chanted before moonlight. Sakat Chauth is another name for Krishna Paksha Chaturthi.
A different form and Peetha (seat) of Ganesha is worshipped each month. Every month, the “Sankashta Ganapathi Pooja” prayer is done on the day of Sankashti Chaturthi. Each Vrata (strict fast) has an objective, which is revealed to us through a narrative called the Vrata Katha. There are 13 Vrata Kathas for Sankashti Chaturthi, one for each month, and the thirteenth narrative is for Adhika Mas (The Hindu calendar has one extra month approximately every 3 years). This Vrata is special in that only the tale associated with that particular month needs to be recited.
On this day, Ganesha is said to grant all of his worshippers his divine presence on earth. It marks the day on which Shiva decreed that all other gods, with the exception of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva, and Parvati, were subordinate to his son Ganesha. Hindus customarily invoke Ganesha at the start of any new endeavor or journey since he is highly revered as the god of knowledge, wealth, and good fortune.
Sankashti Chaturthi: Story behind the Birth of Ganesha
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva’s wife, Goddess Parvati, is said to have created Ganesha. Using the turmeric or sandalwood paste she used for her bath, Parvati formed a sculptor of Ganesha and breathed life into the statue. He was then instructed to keep watch at her door while she took a bath.
Shiva came to meet Parvati and a boy named Ganesha obstructed his way. Shiva killed the child by cutting off his head in a fit of wrath. Parvati became saddened upon learning that her son had died. Shiva, realizing his error, assured her that her son would survive. Shiva was instructed by Brahma, the creator of life, to utilize the head of the first animal he saw in the forest. The boy was given the name “Ganesha” by Shiva (Gana-isha: lord of Ganas). Ganesha is therefore represented with the image of the elephant-headed god.
Sankashti Chaturthi 2022: Lord Ganesha is worshipped on this day. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated Twice a month. There are 24 Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in a year, Vinayaka Chaturthi in Shukla Paksha and Sankashti Chaturthi in Krishna Paksha, respectively, are celebrated. Lord Ganesha is worshipped in a separate Peetha and under a new name every month.
Hindus place a lot of significance on Sankashti Chaturthi and each Sankashti Chaturthi has a unique story attached to it.
Sankashti Chaturthi 2022 -Krishna Pingla Chaturthi Story
According to Hindu mythology, there are a lot of stories about why lord Ganesha is worshipped on Sankashti Chaturthi. One of them is about King Mahajit. He was a Kind and gentle king, who used to treat his subjects as if they were members of his own family. He always provided for the citizens of his empire. He had every luxury of the world but to his utter dismay, he had no child. One day, the subject of his kingdom went to a sage by the name of Lomash in an attempt to find a solution to his issue. After listening to them Sage Lomash urged them to tell their king to observe a fast on the day of Sankashti Chaturthi in the month of Ashadha.
Following the sage’s advice, King Mahajit fasted on Sankashti Chaturthi with great fervor and dedication.
King Mahajit pleased Lord Ganesha, who bestowed upon him the fulfilment of his wish. Amazingly, his wife Sudakshina became pregnant one day, and the king later became the father. He was so ecstatic that he began fasting on Sankashti Chaturthi every year afterward in order to honor Lord Ganesha.
Sankashti Chaturthi 2022 Rituals
1. The devotees are required to get up early, take a holy bath, and dress neatly.
2. Place a Ganesha image in the pooja room of your residence and give him a panchamrit bath (milk, curd, sugar, honey and ghee).
3. Light a candle, apply a tilak of Kumkum, present flowers, Durva, and Lord Ganesha’s preferred delicacies (Laddo and Modak).
4. Since Lord Ganesha’s favorite herb is Durva Grass (Green Grass), devotees must keep in mind to present it to him.
5. The Lord Ganesha Aarti and Vinayaka Katha must be recited by the worshippers.
6. Visitors to the shrine should present Laddo and Modak to Lord Ganesha.
7. After presenting the Lord Ganesha’s bhog, one must break their fast.
8. In addition to Modak and laddoo, worshippers may also present fruits, fried potatoes, and Sama rice kheer.
9. Before breaking their fast, one must offer bhog prasad to every family member.
It is said that Lord Ganesha bestows joy, wealth, health, and good fortune upon his worshippers and removes all obstacles from their lives for those who observe a fast on the day of Sankashti Chaturthi.
