🐘 Sankashti Chaturthi (and Vinayaka Chaturthi) Vrat Katha
The story
Ganesha and the Moon's blemish: the Moon laughed at Ganesha's form (the big belly, the elephant face); Ganesha cursed — 'whoever sees you will be blemished'; at the gods' prayer the curse was softened — only seeing the Moon on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi) brings blemish, and whoever sees the Moon and worships Ganesha on the Krishna Chaturthi (Sankashti) will have their troubles cut. Hence the fast is broken on Sankashti after seeing the Moon, and the Moon is not seen on Vinayaka Chaturthi.
The tale of Angaraka: Angaraka (Mars), son of sage Bharadwaja and the Earth, did severe penance to Ganesha; on Magha Krishna Chaturthi, a Tuesday, Ganesha appeared — 'ask a boon'; Angaraka asked 'let my name be joined to yours, and let whoever keeps the Tuesday Sankashti gain the fruit of a whole year's Sankashtis' — since then Angarki Sankashti; Mars gained a place among the planets, and Mangal dosha is pacified through Ganesha.
Krishna and the Syamantaka (Vinayaka Chaturthi): Krishna saw the Moon on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi; a false blemish of stealing the Syamantaka jewel fell on him; Narada explained it was the fruit of seeing the Chaturthi Moon; Krishna kept the Ganesha vrat, the jewel was found and the blemish erased — hence do not see the Moon on Vinayaka Chaturthi; if seen, reading/hearing the Syamantaka tale is the remedy. Every month's Sankashti has its own katha (Ganesha Purana) — read on the vrat day.
Why this katha — the significance
Ganesha/Narada Purana: the Ganesha vrat and the Moon arghya on the Krishna Chaturthi bring the end of troubles, freedom from debt, removal of obstacles, the blessing of children; Ganesha cursed the Moon with a blemish and then ordained the arghya to that very Moon on Sankashti — without seeing the Moon the Sankashti is incomplete (the reverse on Vinayaka Chaturthi — seeing the Moon is forbidden).
Angarki Sankashti: Mangala (Angaraka) did penance to Ganesha and won the boon that the Tuesday Sankashti be named after him and its fruit equal a whole year's Sankashtis — hence lakhs at the temples of Maharashtra-Karnataka on Angarki (Siddhivinayak, Ashtavinayak, Dagdusheth). The Sankashti date is moonrise-vyapini — the day on which the Chaturthi is present at moonrise; Vinayaka's is midday-vyapini.
The names of the 12 Sankashtis (by the Amanta month): Chaitra-Vikata, Vaishakha-Ekadanta, Jyeshtha-Krishnapingala, Ashadha-Gajanana, Shravana-Heramba (Bahula), Bhadrapada-Vighnaraja, Ashwin-Vakratunda, Kartika-Ganadhipa, Margashirsha-Akhuratha, Pausha-Lambodara (= Sakat Chauth), Magha-Dwijapriya, Phalguna-Bhalachandra; Vibhuvana Sankashti in an Adhika month.
How the katha is heard
- Hear or read the katha after the puja, before the aarti — the whole family sits together.
- The one keeping the vrat should listen with a calm mind; keep a lamp lit and a little akshat-flowers in hand.
- At the end, offer the flowers at the deity's feet and bow; share the prasad with everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the next Sankashti Chaturthi and when will the Moon rise? {Y}
Above are the date of the next Sankashti, the moonrise time (Delhi) and the next 12 dates with names (marked if Angarki); the Moon of the Krishna Chaturthi rises between 8:30 and 10 at night; ±10-20 minutes in your city — match with a panchang.
What is the difference between Sankashti and Vinayaka Chaturthi?
Sankashti = the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi (after the Purnima) — the fast from sunrise to moonrise, paran after the arghya to the Moon, the removal of troubles; Vinayaka = the Shukla Paksha Chaturthi (after the Amavasya) — puja at noon, do not see the Moon (the tale of the blemish); the Vinayaka of Bhadrapada is Ganesh Chaturthi, the Sankashti of Magha is Sakat Chauth; both in the list above.
What is Angarki Sankashti, why so great?
The Sankashti that falls on a Tuesday — Ganesha's boon to Angaraka (Mars) after his penance that the Tuesday Sankashti's fruit equal a whole year's Sankashtis; 1-3 times a year; lakhs fast and queue at temples in Maharashtra; special for those with Mangal dosha; you will find '(Angarki)' marked in the list above.
What if it is cloudy and the Moon is not visible?
After the moonrise time (above) give the arghya in the Moon's direction (east) or take the reflection in a mirror/water in the thali — the paran is valid; the vrat complete; do not delay too late into the night; if moonrise is very late (after 10), the unwell and pregnant take fruit earlier.
For what wish is Sankashti kept, and how many times?
The removal of troubles, freedom from debt and disease, the blessing of children, removal of obstacles, success in work; mothers for their children; a vow of 12 (one year) or 21 Sankashtis, then the udyapan (Ganesha havan, 21 durva, feeding Brahmins); if one is missed, begin again from the next Angarki.
Why durva and modak for Ganesha?
The tale of Analasura — after swallowing the fire demon Ganesha's belly burned, the sages fed him 21 durva to cool it — since then durva is dear (with 3 or 5 blades, 21 joined); the modak (moda = joy) was made by Parvati, Ganesha's favourite — 21 modaks; red flowers and sindoor symbolise Ganesha's rajoguna radiance; Tulsi is forbidden for Ganesha (the tale of the curse).
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