INTRODUCTION
Sankashti Chaturthi, also called as Sankatahara Chaturthi, is an auspicious festival day, and it would be celebrated once in a month in praise of Lord Vinayaka. This famous festival is celebrated for more than 2000 years, in order to remove the obstacles in our life.
During this festival, the devotees must have to observe fasting, and must prepare Mothakams and Vadai, in order to offer it to Lord Vinayaka. After the performance of the puja, we have to close our puja room for some time, with the belief that the first god Vinayaka would consume some of the holy Prasad items fondly offered by us.
Vinakaya Devotees believe that by worshipping Lord Vinayaka on this festival day, their needs and reasonable desires would be fulfilled. It is believed that Ganesh would make his presence in the homes of his sincere devotees during this day. As per legend, during this Sankashti Chaturthi day, Lord Shiva and other gods and goddesses gave various boons to Lord Vinayaka. Lord Vinayaka is the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and mostly he would be worshipped before the start of a new business or during the times of travel.
As per legend, long back, Ma Parvati had created Lord Vinayaka from sandal and turmeric paste and she kept him to guard her, and then she began to take bath. When Lord Shiva entered Kailasa and asked Lord Vinayaka to allow him to see his consort Ma Parvati, he refused, and as a result, Lord Shiva severed the head of Lord Vinayaka. After sometime, when Ma Parvati came to know about the terrible incident, she got very angry, and no one could pacify her.
After some time, the divine attendants of Lord Shiva, came to the earth, and brought an elephant head, and fixed it in the body of Lord Vinayaka, and brought back the life of Lord Vinayaka. In order to cool Lord Vinayaka and Ma Parvati, all the deities assembled in that place gave lot of boons to him, and also declared him to be the “FIRST GOD”. And from then onwards, Lord Vinayaka is called as the “ELEPHANT HEADED GOD”.
Sankashti Chaturthi comes on every 4th day after Pournami full moon (Krishna Paksha) based on Hindu calendar.
Let us worship Lord Vinayaka on this Sankatahara Chaturthi day (02.01.2021), and be blessed.
“OM SRI VINAYAKAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR
