Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi is one of the 13 Sankatahara Ganesha Chaturthi Vratas. Every month, different forms of Lord Ganesha are worshipped along with different Peetha. As per the Hindu calendar, Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi falls in Vaishakha month. In Bavishyat and Narasimha Purana, the greatness of Sankashti Chaturthi puja and vrat are described. It is also believed that Lord Krishna narrated the importance of Sankasthti Chaturthi to Yudhishthira.
Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi Tithi And Timings in 2023
Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi date is on Thursday, May 8, 2023
Name of Lord Ganesha worshipped on this day: Chanakra Raja Ekadanta Maha Ganpati
Peetha: Srichakra Peetha
Chaturthi Tithi Begins – 08:48 PM on May 08, 2023
Chaturthi Tithi Ends – 06:38 PM on May 09, 2023
Significance Of Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha is also known as Vighnaharta, meaning the remover of all the obstacles. Every month, there is a day that is specifically dedicated to the Lord Ganesha, that day is Sankashti Chaturthi. Sankashti Chaturthi is observed in every Lunar month of the Hindu calendar and falls on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha. The one, which falls in the month of Vaishakha is called Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi. Moreover, it is believed that when Chaturthi falls on Saturday, it is very auspicious and named as Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi.
As per Hindu Mythology, it is the day when Lord Ganesha was declared as supreme God. By observing the vrat of Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi, devotees can prevent every problem in life. Literally, ‘Sankat’ means problems and ‘hara’ means the destroyer. On the day of Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi, Abhishekam is the main ritual observed during Lord Ganesha Puja. It is also believed that Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi vrat relieves the devotees of all their sins and confers a place in Svananda Loka – the abode of Lord Ganesha. This day believes to disappear all the difficulties and hurdles, and bestows the devotees with health, wealth, and prosperity.
Rituals For Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi
On this day, there is a special significance of sighting the moon. Devotees get up early in the morning, get ready and dedicate the day worshipping Lord Ganesha. Many devotees also keep fast on Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi wherein they are allowed to eat fruits.
The idol of Lord Ganesha is decorated with durva grass and fresh flowers. A lamp is lit and Vedic mantras are chanted. In the evening, Sankashti puja is performed dedicated to the moon or Chandra God.
Also, on this day, special Naivedya or Bhog is prepared, which includes the favorite dish of Lord Ganesha, Modak (a sweet made up of coconut and jaggery). Ganesha Aarti is performed and later the prasad is distributed among all devotees.
The Fasting Rules Of Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi
The devotees need to observe the full day fast from morning to evening and perform the puja Ganesh puja in the evening. Once the puja is finished, devotees see the moon and make the offering to the moon god. This offering primarily includes sandals paste, water, rice,and flowers. This is where devotees conclude the fast. If one is not able to do the complete fast, they can take the milk and fruits. The best aspect of this fasting is that people can either go for a full day or partial fasting depends on their preference and capability. Fasting observers can only consume fruits, vegetables, and roots of the plants. The basic diet on this day includes peanuts, potatoes, and sabudana khichdi.
Benefits of fasting on Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi
The core benefit of this fasting is that it removes the various obstacles in life and provides progress and happiness. If people religiously follow the fast every year, it relieves them from their sins and gives them a place in the Svananda Lok which is an abode of Lord Ganesha.
The Story Behind EKadanta Sankashti Chaturthi
There was a sage called Bhrushundi who had an elephant trunk due to constant focus on Lord Ganesha. His devotion has made him powerful and people come to him for blessings. One day Lord Indra came to meet the sage and was about to return to his abode from celestial flight. As he left for the kingdom of Shursen, a sinner in that kingdom had its eye on Indra’s flight, hence, the flight landed on the land and lost its power due to the evil look.
King Shursen came running to Indra for his blessings and found his flight in such bad condition. Indra explained the whole issue to Shursen and also suggested the solution. He said that he needs to recharge the flight with some punya so that it starts flying once again. As the previous day was Sankashti Chaturthi, Indira needs anyone who has attained punya by observing the fast Sankashti Chaturthi. It would give Indra the merits and his flight will once again start flying. The soldiers searched throughout the kingdom and found no one who could have observed the fasting.
During that time, the soldiers of Lord Ganesha were carrying a sinner who passed away that morning in the abode of Lord Ganesha. Indira asked the reason behind carrying the sinner. In which, soldiers replied that the sinner had fallen ill due to not eating anything the whole day of Sankashti Chaturthi. It leads to the death of that sinner in the morning. In a way, that sinner has observed the fast unintentionally and attained a lot of merits to remove all the sins and earn a place in the abode of Lord Ganesha. During this whole time, the air that touched the body of the sinner also touched the plane which restored the working condition of flight.
Thus, if you observe the Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi 2023 fast, you will earn many benefits.
For personalized rituals for Sankashti Chaturthi based on your birth chart, consult our expert astrologers.
Hope all your dreams are fulfilled on this day, Happy Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi!
With Ganesha’s Grace,
GaneshaSpeaks.com