Lord Ganesha And Sankashti Chaturthi.

Lord Ganesha And Sankashti Chaturthi ….. An important and Sacred day to many Indians who are firm believes or Lord Ganesha. Many observe fast on this day and break the fast after seeing the moon in the night ......

Sankashti Chaturthi also known as Sankata Hara Chaturthi is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Lord Ganesha bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees on this day. It on this day that Lord Shiva declared his son Ganesha as superior to all the gods, barring Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati. Lord Ganesha is widely worshiped as the god of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel. Sankasthi Chaturthi is celebrated every month. During each month, Lord Ganesha is worshiped with a different name and peeta (lotus petal). However, Ankarika Sankashthi is observed on that day on which the Sankasthi falls on Tuesday the weekly day on which Lord Ganesha is worshiped. 

Every Indian is well versed with the story of our dear Lord Ganesha. Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from the dirt of Her body. She adopted Him as as Her son. On one fateful day, Parvati asked Ganesha to guard the door and went to have a bath. When Lord Shiva arrived with his ganas, little Ganesha refused to let him in. Lord Shiva, who was not acquainted with his son, was angered and attacked the boy, which lead to Ganesha's head being chopped off all for defending his Mother's command.

Parvati was inconsolable with grief on learning about the accident. She took the terrible form of Adi-Shakti and decided to destroy the Universe. To please his wife and save the universe from her wrath, Shiva promised to restore the boy to life with the first live animal’s head, that came across on the hunt. To Paravati’s horror, Ganesha's head was replaced with that of an elephant and boy was on his toes with the head of an elephant. This did not please Parvathi. She was worried that nobody would worship or give importance to her son with an elephant head now. To set right the damage done, Lord Shiva blessed Lord Ganesha with the boon that He would be worshiped as the God of wisdom, knowledge, and prosperity.

Goddess Lakshmi who was till then entitled to the first worship while any puja was being performed, gave this place to Lord Ganesha who would be worshiped first in any ceremony, before any other God was worshiped and that he would be the remover of all obstacles thus naming him Vignaharata meaning the remover of all obstacles. It is believed that Lord Ganesha received all these boons and blessings By Lord Shiva, Goddess Lakshmi and other God’s on Sankashti Chaturthi day. Sankashti means deliverance from the troubled times. Thus, people worship Sankathara or Vighnaharta ie Lord Ganesha on Sankashti Chaturthi day to get rid of all the obstacles in their lives and be blessed with wisdom, knowledge and prosperity.

Sankata Nashana Ganapathi Stotram

|| Shree Ganeshaya Namaha ||

Pranamya Shirasa Devam Gauri Puthram Vinayakam,

Bhaktavasam Smaren Nithyam Ayuh Kamartha Siddaye

Prathamam Vakrathundam Cha Ekadantham Dvithiyakam

Thrithiyam Krishna Pingaaksham Gajavakthram Chaturthakam

Lambodaram Panchamam Cha Shashtam Vikatameva Cha

Sapthamam Vighnarajendram Dhoomravarnam Thathashtamam

Navamam Balachandram Cha Dashamam Thu Vinayakam

Ekadasham Ganapathim Dwadasham Thu Gajananam

Dwadashaitani Namani Thrisandhyam Yah Paten Naraha

Na Cha Vighna Bhayam Thasya Sarvasiddhi Karam Prabho

Vidyarthi Labhate Vidyam Dhanarthi Labhate Dhanam

Puthrarthi Labhate Puthram Moksharthi Labhate Gathim

Japeth Ganapathi Stotram Shadbhir Masaihe Phalam Labheth

Samvatsarena Siddhim Cha Labhate Nathra Samshayaha

Ashtabhyo Brahmanebhyash Cha Likhitwa Yah Samarpayeth

Thasya Vidya Bhavet Sarva Ganeshasya Prasadathaha

Ithi Shri Narada Purane Sankashtanashanam Namashri Ganapathi 

Stotram Sampoornam

May Lord Ganesha the Vignaharata ...... Bless all of us with Wisdom, knowledge, prosperity, health, wealth and remove all obstacles from our life. Also Wishing all of you a Blessed Angarika Sankashti Chaturthi tomorrow ...... :) :)

|| Jai Guru Ganesh ||

Disclaimer :Picture And Story Courtesy : Compiled by Me from Various Sources, Friends and also from the Net ....