The story of Heramba Mahaganapati
A group of rishis approach lord Skanda Kumar one day and say, “We have seen the challenges that afflict mankind at close quarters. Kings are exiled from their kingdoms, people are ousted from their own homes, jealousy and enmity thrive amidst neighbours. The married remain childless. Others suffer from debilitating diseases. The strong torment and oppress. Our hearts are full of fear. Our minds harbour hatred and evil thoughts. We find grief and discrimination wherever we go.
Poverty is the root of our problems. It is a question of merely surviving now. Knowledge and awareness have taken a back seat. And we feel only the fittest and richest will survive. O lord Skanda, will our lives never change for the better? Please share your wisdom with us so that we can pass it on to others.”
Swami Kartikeya says, “Krishna reveals this ancient secret to Yudhishtra when he was exiled from his kingdom. Krishna says, “O Yudhishtra, observe the Sankat Chaturthi Vrat at least in the month of Shravan. That will help you overcome all your challenges and win back your kingdom. Here are the details for the Sankat Chaturthi that falls in the month of Shravan.”
Krishna says, “You should meditate on the Heramba Mahaganapati form of Ganesha during this month when you observe this Sankashti. The Heramba Mahaganapati is a fierce as well as a benevolent form of lord Ganesha. He disciplines our emotions, controls our thoughts and gives us the clarity to walk on the path of Dharma. But first, listen to the Vrat Katha for this holy month of Shravan.
The story of Parvati
In Satyuga, Himavan gives birth to a beautiful daughter, Parvati. Much to his dismay, Parvati goes off to a dense forest as soon as she grows up for she wants only Shiva as her husband.
Parvati performs the most austere of tapasyas to please Shiva. But He does not appear before her. Narada advises her to meditate upon the Heramba Mahaganapati form of Ganesha.
When Parvati does so, Heramba Mahaganapati appears before immediately. Parvati looks at Heramba Mahaganapati with awe. He has a golden body, five heads and ten arms to symbolise his power and rides her mount the lion and Dinka, his rat too. She looks at the benign expression on his face with reverence and knows that Heramba Mahaganapati protects the weak, removes their fears, destroys their enemies and fulfils the wishes of his devotees.
Heramba Mahaganapati says, “O Mother, your intense Lomaharshak tapasya created horripilations all over your body. I know you yearn for Shiva as your husband. Listen to me, O Devi. Observe the Sankat Chaturthi Vrat all through your life or 21 years or 12 months or at the very least during the month of Shravan.
Worship this Heramba Mahaganapati form of mine in Shravan. And observe these rituals. O Devi, make 15 laddoos out of pure ghee as Naivedya. Soak some white sesame seeds in water and bathe in this water on that day. Observe a fast on all Sankashtis and worship my Heramba Mahaganapati form on this day after the moon rises.
The Vrat of Sankashti in Shravana
Draw an eight-petalled lotus rangoli in a clean space. Place a gold, silver, copper or clay Kalasha with water in it. Install my idol (gold, silver, ashtadhaatu or create one out of clay) Now invoke me in the form of Heramba Mahaganapati by performing the rituals prescribed in the Shodash Upachara: Make these offerings to me with utmost devotion and say, “O Lambodara, the one with four arms, three eyes and a red body, O blue-skinned one, you are full of grace and always smiling. Accept my Avahan and preside in this idol today.
O Vignaharta, I bow down to you. Please sit on this Ganesha Peetha. O Lambodara, do rest your feet here. Shankarsuman, here is my Arghya – you are our guest and I invite into our home with utmost respect. Son of Uma, here is the water for your bath. Vakratunda, here is the Achaman – water for you to sip on and purify yourself.
Surpakarna, the one with ears like winnowing fans – please wear the clothes that I offer you. Ganesha, here is the Roli, the kumkum for your tilak and Chandan for you to smear over your body. Vignavinashana, I now offer you flowers. Vikata, here are fragrant incense sticks for you. Vaman, I am now lighting a Diya for you. Lord of the cosmos, please accept these laddus as Naivedya. Deva, I have set aside these fruits too for you. O graceful one, you are Yagnopavit for you have purified the atmosphere of our home. Vignaharta, do accept my salutations to you.”
Then invite Chandra, the moon god. When Shiva decapitated me in his fury, my human head flew into the sky and now adorns Chandra. That is why my devotees wait till they get a glimpse of the moon on Sankashtis. Offer your salutations to Chandra after you greet him with Arghya and say, “ O brother of Lakshmi, you emerged out of the Kshirasagara during the Samudra Manthan. O husband of Rohini. O White one, please accept my Arghya.”
After this ask Heramba Mahaganapati for forgiveness. Now invite a few Brahmins for dinner and offer them five laddoos as prasad. Then break your fast by eating the prasad. Then perform the visarjan of Heramba Mahaganapati by saying, “O Heramba Mahaganapatiji, I offered my prayers to you with utmost devotion. Please bless me with whatever I am yearning for before you return to your realm.”
Donate the Heramba Mahaganapati idol to the Brahmins along with clothes, food grains and Dakshina, bow down to them and say, “O Brahmins, you have manifested as devas here for me today. Do accept our Dakshina along, these five laddoos and this idol of Heramba Mahaganapati. Please bless us so that we can overcome our challenges and move ahead from our current predicament.”
Lord Heramba Mahaganapati then vanishes from there. Parvati observes all Sankashtis from then on and goes on to marry Shiva too.
Lord Skanda looks at the rishis kindly and says, “The Bhavishya Puran states all this too. Now that you know the importance of fasting on Sankashtis spread this knowledge to others so that everyone can overcome the challenges that they are facing in their lives and can walk on the path of Dharma with Arth, Vidya and good health so that they attain Moksha.
Lord Heramba Mahaganapati’s story is unique indeed. We do know that lord Ganesha is a friendly and easy to please deity but in this story lord Muruga cites the importance of worshipping lord Ganesha – a clear message which tells that sometimes we just have to set aside all our differences with our siblings and respect and value them for who they are.
Click here to read more stories on Ganesha and all the Sankashti Vrat Kathas.
Click here to read stories on Krishna.