Gauri Ganesha Chaturthi Vrat Katha | Magha Shukla Chaturthi Vrat Katha

Gauri Ganesha Chaturthi Vrat Katha

King Dasharatha said to Sage Vashishtha - "O great sage! I am feeling exceedingly joyful and happy after listening to the glorious Mahatmya of Chaturthi Tithi Vrat. However, just as the drinking of nectar doesn't really satiate, I am not feeling satisfied by the mere recital of the glory of Chaturthi Vrat. So, O great sage! Please describe the great Mahatmya of Magha Shukla Chaturthi Vrat which fulfills all desires of human beings."

Sage Vashishtha said - "O king! On the day of Magha Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Tithi, Lord Ganesha manifested in Angara form, i.e., a burning ember at the hermitage of Sage Kashyapa. Now, I will recount an ancient historic tale regarding this Vrat which grants immense happiness to everyone who listens to it with devotion."

Sage Vashishtha begins the story thus - "In ancient Karnataka region, an extremely virtuous and valiant king ruled the town of Bhanupuri. His name was Soma. King Soma was always respectful to the Gods, Brahmins and guests. He ruled his kingdom with utmost integrity. He was accomplished in the art of weaponry and protected his kingdom with unmatched valiance and courage. He triumphed over the entire world with his might and established an ideal kingdom which he ruled with righteousness. King Soma was married to Yashovati. Yashovati was virtuous, benevolent, beautiful and righteous in her conduct.

Even though King Soma ruled his kingdom with integrity, once, his kingdom witnessed a prolonged period of drought. The absence of any rain for an extended period of time caused extreme distress to the king. Thus, he visited Sage Shaunaka in the forest to seek his help in alleviating the drought. Sage Shaunaka lived in the forest and was immersed in the devotion of Lord Ganesha. Upon arriving in the great forest, the king offered his deepest respects to the sage by prostrating himself on the ground. Then he joined his hands and said - 'O great sage! My life and deeds have become meaningful after getting your divine Darshan. Please accept my deepest gratitude.'

Sage Shaunaka said - 'O king! O noble one! What is the purpose of your visit to this dense forest? Please tell me your heart's desire without any hesitation.'

King Soma said - 'O sage! There is a town named Bhanupuri in the region of Karnataka. I am the sovereign king of that town and rule my kingdom with righteousness. However, O great sage! There has been no rainfall in my kingdom for a very long period of time. Therefore, I am facing this great crisis brought upon my kingdom by the drought. Despite the fact that I have always ruled my kingdom by following the path of righteousness, ethics and justice, I cannot comprehend the reason why such a calamity should befall me and my people. Thus, O great sage! You are the greatest among the Yogis; please tell me the solution to end this crisis that I am suffering from. I am at your mercy now.'

Upon hearing such pitiful entreaties of King Soma, Sage Shaunaka said - 'O king! Please listen carefully, a great sin has been committed in your kingdom. As a result of that sin, all citizens of your kingdom have become afflicted with several diseases and conditions like infertility. This calamity of drought has also struck your kingdom because of the same sin. O miserable king! Your kingdom has forsaken the Chaturthi Vrat which falls on the Chaturthi Tithi of every fortnight, that is Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha of every month. In the absence of this Vrat, a person's life becomes devoid of any happiness for a thousand years. Thus, O king! You must observe this great Vrat with all your might. Your kingdom would witness rainfall only due to the virtue of this glorious Vrat.'

Saying thus, Sage Shaunaka described to the king the Mahatmya of Chaturthi Vrat in detail. Upon listening to the Mahatmya of the Vrat, the king said in an astonishing voice - 'O Brahman! Please describe the divine form of Lord Ganesha that is the bestower of eternal peace.'

Sage Shaunaka said - 'O great king! In ancient times, I was immersed in deep penance at my hermitage. While absorbed in deep meditation, I was contemplating the nature of Brahman. Thereafter, to bless me, Sage Bhrigu, who is the originator of all Yogis, arrived at my hermitage. Upon seeing him, I instantly got up from my seat and reverently bowed down in front of him. I offered him a seat and worshipped him with great devotion. Afterwards, I stood before him by joining my hands reverently.'

Upon seeing me standing like that, the great Sage Bhrigu said - 'O dear one! Do you have faith in Yoga? Do you intend to attain peace? What is it that your heart desires? Please tell me. I will fulfill the most profound desire of your heart. You are amongst the most virtuous in our lineage and I am very happy with your righteousness. Thus, you must ask me to grant you anything that your heart desires.'

Upon hearing the words of the pious Sage Bhrigu, I joyfully said - 'O great sage! Kindly enlighten me about the knowledge of Purna Yoga, which bestows Yoga Shanti upon its seeker. After this profound knowledge is conferred upon me through your blessings, all my desires will be fulfilled.'

Sage Bhrigu said - 'O honorable one! You must seek Yoga Shanti and worship Lord Ganesha by following the proper rituals. This will certainly grant you the inner peace that you are seeking. O reverent sage! The consciousness has five states wherein Chintamani, the true realization, resides. O son! Upon realising the true nature of consciousness, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Mahesha and other deities attained oneness with Brahman. The knowledge that you get by cultivating your mind is disposed towards Moha. That is, attachment. Therefore, you must strive to subjugate the part of your mind which is inclined to attachment and become one with Chintamani. True consciousness embodies both mind and speech and at the same time it is devoid of both mind and speech. Thus, you must forsake this duality of mind to attain true happiness. Saying thus, the great Sage Bhrigu bestowed upon me the following Mantra and disappeared from sight.'

Sage Shaunaka said to King Soma - 'O king! From the moment Sage Bhrigu enlightened me about the knowledge of worshipping and meditating upon Lord Ganesha by controlling my mind, I have immersed myself in the devotion of Lord Ganesha through Yoga and it is with the blessings of Lord Ganesha Himself that I am able to worship Him. Seeing my dedication, Lord Ganesha appeared to grant me the boon and made me Ganapatya, that is I became the follower of Ganapatya tradition.'

After narrating the whole story, Sage Shaunaka bestowed the Manu Mantra 'Gananam Tva Gam Havamahe' upon King Soma. Thereafter, King Soma reverently bowed down in front of Sage Shaunaka and returned to his kingdom with his blessings. Afterwards, King Soma, along with the citizens of his kingdom, observed the glorious Vrat of Magha Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Tithi.

O King Dasharatha! Thereafter, King Soma and his citizens observed the Vrat of Magha Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha Chaturthi Tithi every year and spread its glory in the entire world. With the virtue of that great Vrat, King Soma's kingdom received ample rainfall, which revitalized the parched earth and spirits of people. Happy with the rainfall, people began singing Bhajans of Lord Ganesha. King Soma became a devoted follower of Lord Ganesha and built a grand temple of Lord Ganesha. The king invested lavishly in the temple and established a magnificent idol of Lord Ganesha in the temple and began worshipping Lord Ganesha in His Varada form. The king, along with his sons and grandsons, ruled his kingdom righteously. All citizens of the kingdom became happy and got rid of all the diseases and the problem of infertility they were suffering from. King Soma always worshipped Lord Ganesha and fulfilled his royal duties with integrity and honesty. Upon death, the king and his subjects received Lord Ganesha's Darshan in Swananda and attained oneness with Brahman, that is, became Brahmabhuta."

Sage Vashishtha said to King Dasharatha - "O king! Thus, I have described the ancient history of Magha Shukla Chaturthi Vrat. Now, I will narrate to you another Mahatmya of this glorious Vrat, please listen carefully. Once, an outcast, lower in cast even than a Shudra, lived in a city named Kaundina. His name was Bhanu and he was an extremely vile and immoral man. Bhanu was a womanizer and engaged in sinful activities like intoxication and gambling. That wicked man would kill travellers and rob their valuables and money. O king! He crossed all limits of evilness and started killing people for his amusement. He would not spare even Brahmins. Thus, that outcast became evil beyond all chances of redemption.

Once, with some divine intervention, he was wandering in the forest. It was the day of Magha Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Tithi. While wandering in the forest, he arrived near the mountain range. Coincidentally, he did not get any food to eat and water to drink that day in the forest. Uncomfortable with hunger and thirst, he found a place somewhere in the forest to rest. He woke up early in the morning and returned home and devoured some food to sate his hunger. However, as soon as he drank water, he disgorged it.

O king! As he disgorged the water, that evil sinner died on the spot. Thereafter, the messengers of Lord Ganesha escorted him to His abode Svanandapura. As soon as he received the Darshan of Lord Ganesha, the sinner was liberated of all his sins and became enlightened and attained, Sayujya, i.e., union with Lord Ganesha. O king! Although inadvertently, he observed Chaturthi Vrat and due to the virtue of this glorious Vrat, that great sinner who was born an outcast attained oneness with Brahman. Magha Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Tithi is regarded as highly auspicious and bestower of great boons. I consider myself incapable of describing the Mahatmya of this glorious Vrat. O king! Thus, countless human beings have attained oneness with Brahman with the blessings of this Chaturthi Vrat. Reading or listening to the Mahatmya of Magha Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Vrat bestows the person with all kinds of Siddhis."