The story of Vakratunda Mahaganapati
One day Yudhishtra asks Krishna, “O Jagat guru, the Bhavishya Puran states that we should observe the Vrat of Sankashti when we are overwhelmed by challenges. Lord Ganesha removes all the obstacles from our path and enables us to walk on the path of Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha and blesses us with Vidya, prosperity and good health. The Sankashti that falls in the month of Ashvin is known as Sankata Chaturti. Please tell me how we should worship lord Ganesha on this day so that I can perform this auspicious Vrat properly.”
Krishna says, “O Yudhishtra, in ancient times, Parvati had asked the same question to lord Ganesha. And this is the answer that lord Ganesha gives her. Listen…”
Lord Ganesha says, “O Mother, wake up early in the morning, have your bath after you complete your ablutions and wear clean clothes. Place the Vakratunda Mahaganapati form on a Bhuvaneshwari Peetam and meditate on my swaroop throughout the day. Observe a fast and eat only fruits. Stay away from anger and greed and don’t dupe anyone on this auspicious day.
In the evening bathe again and wear clean clothes. Sit in front of Vakratunda Mahaganapati and worship Him with panchopachar i.e. offer Him dhoop, deep, naivedya, akshat and flowers. Offer Vakratunda Mahaganapati laddoos in the form of naivedya. And clothes too.
Now hold some water in your right palm along with some darbha and after taking the sankalp offer haldi and darbha in the havan. Observe all the rituals correctly and then perform Vakratunda Mahaganapati’s arti.
Invite the moon by offering him arghya when He rises in the night sky. Break your fast by eating only fruits that night. You O mother can reign supreme over the seven cosmic islands – the Sapta Dveep if you observe this Sankashti Vrat in the month of Ashvin by worshipping Vakratunda Mahaganapati. Others will be blessed with siddhis.
You can overcome all your challenges and fulfil your desires by observing this fast provided you stay away from anger and pride, abstain from cheating others and remain self-controlled. Now listen to the Sankat Chaturthi Vrat Katha and read it aloud to others who are present with you.”
The story of Banasura
Banasur, the son of Mahabali lives in Sonitpura in Patala. He has a thousand arms and is a bhakta of Shiva. He plays the mridangam with his thousand arms whenever Shiva dances the Tandav. So when Shiva grants him a boon Bana asks Shiva to protect him. Shiva agrees.
Bana now becomes arrogant and thinks he is invincible. He has a lovely daughter Usha but he locks her up in a fortress – his Agnigarh – when several princes express their desire to marry her. One day, Usha dreams of a handsome blue bodied man who woos her with his winsome ways.
Usha falls in love with him without even knowing who he is. She pines for him loses interest in her worldly life and has a forlorn expression on her face. Usha’s friend, Chitralekha tries to cheer her up in many ways but to no avail. When Chitralekha asks her why she has suddenly become so moody, Usha tells her about the man she has lost her heart to and met only in her dreams.
Chitralekha, an artist par excellence sketches portraits of all the princes that she knows of and asks Usha if this any of them is the man of her dreams. Usha rejects them all. Chitralekha continues sketching until one fine day, Usha sits up straight and claps her hands in glee when she sees Chitralekha’s portrait of Aniruddha.
Chitralekha informs Usha that she has fallen in love with Krishna’s grandson for Aniruddha is none other than Pradyumna’s son. Usha begs Chitralekha to use her siddhis and bring Aniruddha to her. She loves Aniruddha deeply and tells Chitralekha that she will end her life if she cannot marry Aniruddha.
Aniruddha and Usha
So Chitralekha uses her occult powers, goes to Dwarka in the dead of the night, transports Aniruddha along with his cot and brings him to Usha’s chambers at dawn. Aniruddha sleeps through it all and is surprised to find himself in the company of the lovely Usha when he wakes up. He falls in love with Usha instantly and forgets all about his family and kingdom.
In Dwarka, Pradyumna and Krishna are frantic with worry when they realize that someone has kidnapped Aniruddha. When Rukmini hears the news, she is inconsolable. She looks at Krishna dejectedly and says, “O Krishna, where is Aniruddha? Who kidnapped him? Why did he suddenly decide to leave us all? You know all that happens in the three worlds. Tell me where Aniruddha is or I will surely die of grief this very instant.”
Krishna cannot bear to see Rukmini’s grief. He immediately calls his courtiers and feels relieved when he finds the renowned rishi Lomash seated in his court. Krishna narrates everything to rishi Lomash and says, “Aniruddha is an extremely intelligent lad. I doubt that he has left us of his own accord. We don’t know how and why Anirudhha was kidnapped. All I know O rishi is that his mother and grandmother are extremely sad without him. Please help us.”
Rishi Lomash says, “Your grandson was kidnapped because Banasura’s daughter Usha asked her friend Chitralekha to do so. Aniruddha is now confined to Usha’s Agnigraha. Narad himself gave me this news. But worry not O Krishna. Just observe the Sankashti Vrat that falls in the month of Ashvin. If you worship Vakratunda Mahaganapati and perform all the rituals correctly, you will surely be reunited with your grandson Aniruddha.” And after saying this rishi Lomash goes back to the forest to meditate.
Krishna observes Sankashti
Krishna observes the Sankashti Vrat that falls in the month of Ashvin. And he defeats Bana after waging a long war against him. In order to protect his devotee Bana, Shiva engages in a long drawn battle with Krishna himself. But Krishna releases an astra that puts Shiva into a deep sleep. He then releases his Sudarshan Chakra and systematically chops off Banasura’s hands to deflate his ego.
Shiva rises from his deep slumber when Bana has only four hands left and requests Krishna not to kill him. Krishna forgives Bana. For Shiva. And also because he has promised MahaBali that he would not kill any of his family members. Krishna returns to Dwarka with Aniruddha and Usha. Aniruddha marries Usha with the blessings of his family.
Lord Ganesha then looks at his mother and says, “O Devi, Krishna was able to overcome all his challenges and was reunited with his grandson only because he had observed the Vrat of Sankashti and prayed to lord Vakratunda Mahaganapati. That is how effective the Vrat of Sankashti is.”
Krishna breaks out of his reverie and says, “O son of Kunti, even highly enlightened souls cannot describe the power of this Vrat completely. We should all observe this Vrat of Sankashti. For lord Vakratunda Mahaganapati removes all the obstacles from our path. O king, I have experienced the benefits of observing this fast myself. And I have narrated only the truth.”
Whether it is Yudhistra’s addiction to gambling or Banasur’s pride and his insecurity about his daughter Usha – it ultimately has disastrous consequences in which others too suffer. Let’s refrain from such things, do our best to remain self-controlled at all times and appreciate lord Vakratunda Mahaganapati for always helping us out of all our difficulties.
Click here to read a few stories on Ganesha and the Sankashti Vrat Kathas.
Click here to read stories on Krishna.