Sakat Chauth

Each month of the year has two Chaturthi dates (one in the Krishna Paksha and one in the Shukla Paksha). The Chaturthi that falls during the Krishna Paksha after the full moon is celebrated as Sankashti Chaturthi. Thus, Sankashti Chaturthi occurs every month. However, the Sankashti Chaturthi during the Krishna Paksha of the month of Magha is observed as the Sakat Chauth fast. Women observe this fast for the happiness, prosperity, healthy life, and longevity of their children. On this day, women who worship Lord Ganesha with devotion and complete faith and observe the Chaturthi fast have all their wishes fulfilled by Gajanan, who removes their troubles and keeps His blessings upon them.

Worship Method: -

In the morning, after completing daily rituals like bathing, spread a red cloth on a platform near the home temple and install idols of Lord Ganesha and Sakat Mata. Take a vow to observe the fast. Women who observe this fast do so without water throughout the day and only consume fruits after the evening worship. According to their customs, they worship Lord Ganesha and Sakat Mata with devotion. Offer sesame seeds, jaggery, ghee, durva grass, betel nut, laddoos, cardamom, and dried fruits to the deity, along with puris and other dishes. Mix sesame seeds, jaggery, and ghee to make the shape of a goat and have the son symbolically cut the goat's neck with a knife. Women who worship Lord Ganesha and Sakat Mata with devotion on the Chaturthi of the month of Magha receive Lord Ganesha's blessings, resulting in prosperous children who are endowed with strength and intelligence. Afterward, consume the prasad and distribute it to everyone. When the moon is visible, offer Arghya to the Moon deity and pray for the long life of your children.

The Story of the Birth of Lord Ganesha: -

According to the Ganesh Purana, when Shaunak Ji asked about the character of Lord Ganesha, Suta Ji narrated it, saying, "Goddess Parvati had two companions, Jaya and Vijaya. Both were extremely beautiful, wise, virtuous, and sweet-spoken. Goddess Parvati held them in high regard. One day, these companions requested Goddess Parvati, saying, 'Friend, you don't have your own attendant, so you should certainly have a personal attendant of your own.'"

Upon hearing this, Goddess Parvati, surprised, said, "What are you saying, dear friends? We have millions of attendants who are always ready to promptly follow orders. Why would we need another attendant?" The companions replied, "All those attendants belong to Lord Shiva. They consider His command as the highest. Even Nandi, Bhringi, and other attendants who are considered ours prioritize the orders of Lord Shiva. If you give an order and Lord Shiva contradicts it, none of the attendants will follow your command. If you ask them, they will certainly give some excuse."

Goddess Parvati pondered for a moment and then said, "Among these primary attendants, is there anyone who could disobey my command?" The companions explained to Goddess Parvati, "None of the primary attendants are truly ours; they are all soldiers of Lord Mahadeva. They are appointed by Lord Shiva to protect us and oversee all matters. Therefore, kindly create a personal attendant for yourself."

Goddess Parvati accepted her companions' advice but had not yet acted on it. The matter was left there, and over time, she gradually forgot about it. One day, in the early morning, Goddess Parvati was going to bathe in the bathroom. She instructed Nandi, "If anyone comes, stop them," and then went inside. Just then, Lord Shiva arrived and attempted to enter. Nandi stopped him and respectfully requested, "Mother is bathing, so please wait here." To this, Lord Shiva replied, "Let her bathe. I have an urgent matter." Ignoring Nandi's words, Lord Shiva directly entered the bathroom.

Upon Lord Shiva's sudden arrival, Goddess Parvati, who was bathing, became extremely shy and tried to cover herself. Lord Shiva, without saying anything, quietly left. After bathing, as Parvati dressed, she thought to herself that Jaya and Vijaya's suggestion was indeed correct. I mistakenly ignored their advice. If I had a personal attendant at the door, Lord Shiva would not have entered the bathroom so easily. Nandi disregarded my command. It now seems that I don't have complete authority over all the attendants. Therefore, there should be an attendant who is entirely under my command, who never disregards my orders, and who is solely mine. The attendants of Lord Shiva follow my orders only when they have Lord Shiva's permission, but my personal attendant will follow his orders only when I command him.

Reflecting on this in her mind, Goddess Parvati removed the pure dirt from her sacred body and created a conscious being from it. This being was endowed with all auspicious qualities, flawless in every aspect, blessed with an ideal beauty, unique and radiant in appearance, and extremely powerful and mighty. Goddess Parvati adorned him with various garments, numerous types of ornaments, and bestowed upon him many blessings, saying, "You are my son. You belong to me alone. There is no one else as dear to me as you."

Upon hearing this, the boy bowed to her and spoke. Ganesha said, "Mother, what task has arisen for you today? I will fulfill it according to your command." In response to Ganesha's question, Goddess Parvati answered her son. She said, "My son, you are my child, you are mine. Therefore, listen to me. From today, you will become the guardian of my gate. Dear son, no one should be allowed to enter my palace without my permission, no matter where they come from or who they are." Saying this, Parvati handed Ganesha a very strong staff. At that moment, seeing his beautiful form, Parvati was filled with joy. She lovingly kissed her son's face and embraced him.

Afterward, Parvati placed Ganesha, equipped with the staff, at the gate. Then, the mighty Ganesha, son of Parvati, began guarding the entrance with the staff in hand, as per his mother's command. Meanwhile, Parvati, having appointed her son Ganesha at the door, went to bathe with her companions. At that moment, Lord Shiva, the supreme being who is skilled in creating various divine plays, arrived at the gate.

Ganesha did not recognize Lord Shiva, so he spoke up, "Deity, you cannot enter without my mother's permission. She has gone to bathe." Saying this, Ganesha took the staff in his hand to stop him. Seeing this, Lord Shiva said, "Fool! Do you not know who I am? I am Shiva, none other." Then, Shiva's attendants arrived to persuade Ganesha to step aside and said, "Listen, we are the chief attendants of Shiva and have come here on the command of the all-pervading Lord Shankar to remove you. We have spared you, thinking you are just an attendant; otherwise, you would have been defeated long ago. The wise thing for you to do now is to step aside on your own. Why invite your own death unnecessarily?"

Despite these words, Ganesha stood firm without fear. He scolded the attendants and did not leave the door. The attendants then went to Lord Shiva and reported everything that had happened. Hearing all this from them, Lord Mahadeva, who is the master of the world's rhythm and the creator of divine plays, scolded and reprimanded his attendants. Maheshwara said, "Who is this that speaks so arrogantly and acts like an enemy? Get rid of this new gatekeeper. Why are you standing here like cowards, reporting to me?"

Following Lord Shiva's command, the attendants returned to the door. When Ganesha again refused them entry, Shiva ordered his attendants to find out who this person was and why he was behaving this way. The attendants investigated and reported back that "This is the son of Goddess Parvati, appointed as the gatekeeper." Then, Lord Shiva, desiring to enact a divine play and humble the pride of his attendants, decided to engage them in a fierce battle with Ganesha. However, none of them could defeat Ganesha.

Then, Lord Maheshwara himself, wielding his trident, arrived. Ganesha remembered his mother's feet, and the divine energy granted him immense strength. All the deities sided with Lord Shiva, and a fierce battle ensued. In the end, Lord Shiva himself struck Ganesha with his trident, severing his head. When this news reached Goddess Parvati, she was filled with rage. Unleashing numerous divine energies, she commanded them to bring about destruction without hesitation.

These divine energies began to cause havoc, and their blazing light illuminated all directions. Witnessing this, all of Shiva's devotees were terrified and fled to a safe distance. At that moment, the divine sage Narada arrived. The gods were greatly relieved by Narada's presence. Narada, along with Brahma and the other deities, respectfully greeted Lord Shiva and suggested that everyone should come together to resolve this matter.

The deities consulted with Narada, seeking a way to alleviate this distress. They concluded that until Goddess Parvati was appeased, they would find no peace. Realizing that further contemplation was futile, Narada and all the deities, along with the sages, went to Goddess Parvati to calm her wrath. They sought to please her with love, praising her with various hymns and repeatedly bowing at her feet.

The divine sages said, "O Jagadamba, we bow to you! O Shivapali, we offer our respects. O Chandika, we greet you. O Kalyani, we bow to you repeatedly. O Amba, you are the primordial energy. You are the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of this virtuous world. O Devi, your wrath is causing distress to the entire universe, so please be appeased and calm your anger. O Devi, we bow our heads at your feet."

Saying this, all the divine sages stood before Chandika (Parvati) with utmost humility, anxious and with folded hands. Hearing their words, Chandika was pleased, and compassion filled her heart. Then she said to the sages, "O sages, if my son is brought back to life and is regarded with reverence among you, then there will be no destruction. Peace in the world can only be restored if you all bestow upon him the position of 'Sarvadhyaksha' (Chief of All), otherwise, you will find no happiness."

Hearing Parvati's words, the sages went to the other deities and conveyed the entire message. Upon hearing this, a sense of gloom fell over the faces of Indra and the other deities. They went to Lord Shiva, bowed at his feet with folded hands, and relayed the entire message. Hearing the deities' plea, Lord Shiva said, "Very well, we must do as she says, so that all realms may find peace.

Having said this, Lord Shiva instructed the deities to go north and find the first creature they encountered. They were to sever its head and attach it to the body of the child. Following Lord Shiva's command, the deities completed the task. They washed and purified the child's body and performed the proper rituals. Then they proceeded northward, where they first encountered an elephant with a single tusk. They took its head and attached it to the child's body. After joining the elephant's head, all the deities bowed to Lord Shiva and reported that their task was complete. They requested Lord Shiva to complete what remained.

Hearing the deities' promise regarding Shiva's protection, all the deities and attendants were greatly pleased. Subsequently, Brahma, Vishnu, and the other deities respectfully bowed to their Lord Shiva and said, "O Lord, may the divine energy through which we all were born enter this child along with the chanting of Vedic mantras." The deities collectively consecrated water with Vedic mantras, and after remembering Lord Shiva, they sprinkled the purified water on the child. As soon as the water touched the child, he awoke voluntarily and sat up as if from sleep. The fortunate child was very beautiful, with an elephant-like face and a greenish-red body. Joy was evident on his face, and his appearance was remarkably charming, radiating beauty.

Seeing the child alive, everyone present was overjoyed, and all their sorrows vanished. They happily showed the child to Goddess Parvati, who was extremely delighted to see her son alive. Thus, the manifestation of Ganesha occurred. Anyone who listens to or reads the story of Lord Ganesha will find that he removes obstacles from their auspicious endeavours, and both the listener and speaker will achieve success in their undertakings.

Significance of the Sakat Chauth Fast:

Thus, women who observe the Sakat Chauth fast with complete devotion receive their desired results. Lord Ganesha removes all obstacles permanently, and through the influence of Sakat Mata, the children of the fasting women are blessed with good health, intelligence, and strength.