Significance of Sankatahara Chaturthi or Sankashti Chaturthi

Sankatahara Chaturthi or Sankashti Chaturthi is a Vrata observed on the Chaturthi, the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (chaturthi which comes after the full moon) during every month. Devotees of Lord Ganesh consider the vratam as highly auspicious and effective in overcoming obstacles and problems (sankat).

The Vratam should be observed for a period of one year starting on Magha Krishna Chaturthi or Bhadrapada Krishna Chaturthi or when the Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday during the year ( also called Angaraka Sankatahara Chaturthi).

The person or couple who wish to undertake this Vrata should perform a sankalpa (firm resolution) in the morning after taking a head bath and worshipping Lord Ganesha that they will observe this vrata for one year. They must observe a fast for the whole day and worship Lord Ganesha after moon rise in the evening with Durva grass (darbha) , modak, Shwetaarka flower and other offerings which are dear to Lord Ganesha.

The significance, spiritual importance and the greatness of Sankatahara Chaturthi is mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana and the Narasimha Purana. Sankashti Chaturthi mahatmya was narrated by Lord Krishna to Yudhistira.

The story is told of a King who had no issues, in spite of performing many austerities and pujas. He prays to Rishi Narada to help him. Lord Narada visits the world of ancestors (Pitri Loka) and discovers that the king's ancestors were suffering in hell as the King had no children. The King's father tells Maharishi Narada that the King should invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha to obtain progeny and release them from hell. The King undertakes the Sankatahara Chaturthi Vrata and within a year he is blessed with progeny and his ancestors also attain swarga.

The second important incident associated with the Chaturth Vratam is about Mangala graha. Lord Mangal performs severe austerities for 1,000 years without food or water to appease Lord Ganesha who appears in front of him on the Magha Krishna Chaturthi day soon after moon rise and blesses him. Mangalagraha requests Lord Ganesha that he should similarly bless any person who undertakes the Chaturthi Vrata. This is why Lord Ganesha is addressed as 'Mangala Murti'.

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Why should we pray / meditate daily?

In Competitive Societies, We Hurt Each Other

Swami Dayananda Saraswati explains the need

for performing daily rituals or meditation

Competition has acceptable rules, which both competitors follow; when I get a chance, I hurt you, though not illegally, and you hit me all right, but never below the belt. We allow ourselves to hurt others, we equip and protect ourselves to hurt others, and they have as much right to hurt us, because those are the rules of the game. It is called paapadravya-upajeevanam. Our upajeevanam, daily earning, is through competition, which is often at the cost of someone else, or sometimes not through fair means. Even in a society where there is no competition, there is some act of paapa associated with earning one’s livelihood, but where there is competition, the earning is definitely paapa-dravya. This is the reason we need to pray daily. It is like taking a cleansing bath everyday. Because you need to earn your living, you have to have a vidhikriyaa, an enjoined ritual action, like the daily agnihotra-karma or some other vaidika-karma. If you don’t do any of these, at least do puja, kirtan or japa, or, at the very least, do meditation, so that you get rid of this daily gathering of sins.

Festivals in October 2010

October 2010
1. Fri: Mahalakshmi Vrata Samapana. Kalashtami.

4. Mon: Indira Ekadasi.

5. Tue: Pradosham.

6. Wed: Masa Shivaratri.

7. Thur: Mahalaya Amavasya.

8. Fri: Navaraatri Pooja Aarambha,

9. Sat: Chandradarsana.

11. Mon: Lalita Panchami

13. Wed: Shashtivrata, Saraswati Avahana.

14. Thur: Durgapooja begins.

15. Fri: Durgashtami, Maha Ashtami.

16 Sat: Sravanavrata, Ayudhapooja, Mahanavami, Saraswatipooja, Saraswati Visarjana.

17 Sun: Vijayadasami, Dasara , Sri Madhavacharya Jayanti, Kaveri Samkramana Snana.

18. Mon: Pasankusa (Papankusa) Ekadasi.

20. Wed: Pradosham, Asoka Triratri Vratam.

22. Fri: Annabhisheka. Pournamipooja, Kojagari Lakshmi Pooja (Bengal), Kumara Pournima, Sarat Pournima, Kojagari (Lakshmindra Pooja) Maharshi Vaimiki’s Birthday.

25. Mon: Krittikavrata.

26. Tue: Sankataharachaturlhi, Karaka Chaturthi (Karwa chouth), Dasarata Chaturti.

28. Thur: Shashtivrata.

Kanti Vrata: 9th October 2010

Kanti Vrata


THIS austerity is related with the worship of Sri Krishna and Balaram. It commences on the second day of the bright half of the lunar month, Kartika(Oct—Nov) and lasts for a year, whereby a devotee observes a fast on the second day (bright half) of every month that follows.

While worshipping Balarama, a devotee should chant. “Om Baladevaya Namah” and while worshipping Sri Krishna, he should chant “Om Keshavaya Namah”. Subsequently, arghya (water) is offered to both the deities. A devotee should have food prepared from barley-flour in the night, but those devotees who have resolved to observe this austerity for four months beginning from Phalguna (Feb.-March) should live only on “kheer”.

Offerings of rice and sesame seeds are made in the sacrificial fire during the months of Aghan (Nov—Dec) and Kartika (Oct—Nov) respectively. The rituals conclude by worshipping the deity “Chandrama” at the end of the year. Finally all the three idols Sri Krishna, Balarama and Chandrama should be donated to Brahmins. A devotee who observes this austerity is bestowed with a charming personality. Kanti Vrata falls on 9th October 2010.

Source: Varaha Purana

Karva Chauth: 27th October 2010

Wives fast the whole day and wait till the Moonrise to break the fast, in the presence of the husbands. They believe that it ensures the well-being, prosperity and longevity of their husbands.

The fast of Karva Chauth is of particular importance to Hindu women, as they believe that it ensures the wellbeing, prosperity and longevity of their husbands.

This festival is glorified and widely solemnized by the Hindus and Sikhs of North-western India. As the name signifies, “Karva” meaning “a clay pot’ and “chauth” corresponding to the “fourth” - this festival is commemorated on the fourth day after the Full Moon in Kartik month (Oct-Nov) of the lunar calendar.

A few days before Karva Chauth, married women buy new karvas, the spherical clay pots and paint them on the outside with beautiful designs. Usually, falling in the month of October, Karvachauth is celebrated amidst harvesting of summer crops.

Apart from the fast, kept by married women for the long life of their husbands, people like to remember and meet their relatives and friends, and exchange gifts with them. Wives fast the whole day and wait till Moonrise to break the fast, in the presence of their husbands.

In the evening, women dress gorgeously and worship the rising Moon with food offering, jewellery etc. Then, they receive the first bite of food and water from their husbands and end their fast.

Daily Panchanga: 12 Sep 2010, Sunday

12 Sep 2010: Ravivara, Vikruti, D.ayana, Bhadrapad, S.Panchami, Swati nakshatra, Indra yoga, Bava karana, Rahukala:1630-1800hrs. www.parihara.com

Rishi Panchami today. Worship Sapta Rishis today to overcome all graha doshas - Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra etc. www.parihara.com

9 Sep '10: Guruvara, Vikruti, D.ayana, Bhadrapad, S.Pratipada, U.Phalguni, Sadhya yoga, Bava karana, Rahukala:1330-1500hrs. www.parihara.com

Mesha, Vrishabha, Karkataka, Simha, Kanya, Vrishchika, Makara and Meena Rashi borns have Chandra bala now. Chandraashtama for Kumbha Rashi Borns.


Book your puja in advance for Ganesh Chaturthi. Offer puja at famous Ganesha temples & get prasadam delivered at home. Click here for more info

7 Sep '10: Mangalavara, Vikruti, D.ayana, Sravana, Chaturdasi, Makha nakshatra, Siva yoga, Visti karana, Rahukala:1500-1630hrs www.parihara.com

Mesha, Mithuna,Karkataka,Simha, Tula, Vrishchika, Kumbha and Meena Rashi borns have Chandra bala now.Chandraashtama for Makara Rashi Borns.

Chandraashtama is the period when the Moon crosses through the 8th house from your Moon sign for 2 1/2 days. When Moon is in the 8th house, disappointments, accidents and reversals occur. This period is avoided for launching new ventures or important tasks.

Sep 2010: Guruvara, Ashtami till 10:43 and then Navami, Rohini till 13:4&then Mrigasira nakshatram, Harshana yoga, Balava karana, Rahukalam: 1330-1500hrs

Mesha,Karka, Simha, Tula, Vrishchika, Dhanu, Makara, and Meena Rashi borns have Chandra bala now. Ashtama Chandra For Tula Rashi Borns.

www.parihara.com