Eka dhantha Sankashti Chathurthi Vrat is observed by invoking Bhagwan Ganesha. This Sankashti Chathurthi Vrat occurs in the Krishna Paksha Chathurthi of Vaisakha month. Sri Vinayak is called as Sri Eka dhantha Vinayak due to his appearance with single tusk.
The general form of Sri Sankashti Ganapathi as the destroyer of troubles is of golden hue, attired in blue dress sitting on red lotus. He is in varadha mudra bestowing abundance and is holding a goad, a noose and a bowl of payasam.
Eka dhantha Sankashti Chathurthi is on Sunday, 26th May 2024. The exact duration of the Chathurthi Tithi and the time of the moon rise are to be ascertained from the respective regional calendar.
The form of Sri Vinayaka for worshipping in this Vrat is Sri Chanakra Raja Eka dhantha Ganapathi. The Peeta is Sri Chakra.
Eka dhantha Ganapathi
There are a few legends pertaining to the reason for Sri Ganapathi having only one Dhantha.
Maha Bharath
Sage Ved Vyas had consolidated all the Vedas. He had compiled the Ashta Dasha Puranas. It was Sage Ved Vyas who had composed the Epic Maha Bharatha.
As directed by Sri Brahma, he had asked Bhagwan Shiva to help him write down the Maha Bharatha. Bhagwan Shiva had directed Bhagwan Ganesha to write down the Epic.
Ved Vyas and Sri Ganesh had decided that Ved Vyas would recite the Bharatha and that Sri Ganesh would understand the meaning and write it down.
As the Epic was vast and huge, Sri Vinayak had decided to use His own Dhantha as the pen. So, He had broken one of His tusks and used it as pen to pen down Maha Bharatha.
Chandra
Once, Sri Vignesh was returning from a feast event. His stomach was full. He was riding on His Vahan mouse. It was a Shukla Paksha Chathurthi (4th day from Amavasya) day.
Due to heaviness of His stomach, Sri Ganesh had tripped. His stomach had split. The contents of His stomach had spread hither and thither.
Sri Vinayak had collected back the contents, put them in and tucked His tummy with Vasuki, the snake which he had worn as the belt.
Chandra, who was witnessing all this had burst out laughing. Bhagwan Vignesh got angry. He plucked out one of His tusks and threw it at Chandra. He cursed him that whoever sees Chandra on the Shukla Paksha Chathurthi shall face obstacles in their work.
Chandra had immediately apologized to Sri Ganesh. Sri Ganesh relented that if the person who sees the moon on that day also listens to the story, there would be no ill effect.
Since then, Sri Ganesh appeared with one tusk only.
Parashu Ram
Once Sri Parashu Ram visited Kailash to have the darshan of Bhagwan Shiva. At that time, Bhagwan Shiva was going into meditation. He had asked His Sons Sri Ganesh and Sri Karthik to stop anyone from disturbing Him during the meditation.
On seeing Sri Parashu Ram at the entrance, the Divine Kids stopped Him. Sri Parashu Ram got angry. With His axe, He had attacked Sri Vinayak. Sri Vinayak did not respond because He knew that the weapon was given by His father. Due to the effect of the axe, a portion of Sri Ganesh’s protruding tooth got broken.
On seeing this, Sri Parvathi Devi got furious and was preparing to attack Sri Parashu Ram. Bhagwan Shiva who had done His meditation by this time stopped Sri Parvathi Devi from attacking Sri Parashu Ram. He told Her that Sri Parashu Ram was also like a Son to Him.
Sri Parashu Ram then apologized to Sri Shakthi and Sri Ganapathi.
Rituals
The devotees wake up early in the morning. After bathing, the puja place at home is cleaned. The vigraha or the picture of Sri Ganapathi is decorated with flowers. Chandan and Kumkum are applied. Lamps and Dhup are lit.
Slokams / Stotrams invoking Sri Ganapathi are recited. The story concerned with the Sankashti Chathurthi Vrat is read and recited.
Some people observe fasting for the day. By the evening, special abhishekams and archanas are done at Ganapathi temples.
After having the darshan of Chandra, the moon, they partake the prasadam which was offered to God as Neivedyam. The Neivedyam mostly consists on modhakam, sundal, payasam and other related rice preparations.
Giving daan of food (Annadanam) to the poor and needy is of utmost importance.
The ardent devotees of Bhagwan Ganesha consider the Sankashti Chathurthi festivals as highly auspicious.
Benefits
It is believed that sincere observation of all the Sankata Hara Chathurthi Vrats shall
-result in fulfillment of the wishes;
-bless progeny;
-alleviate all problems in life;
-bring in prosperity;
-assure no re-birth; and
-ensure attainment of salvation in Ganesh Loka.
The particulars of Sankashti Vrats in general and Vikata Sankashti Chathuthi are narrated in the previous articles.
The rest of the Sankashti Vrats shall be narrated in the subsequent articles of the series.
