Bhalachandra Sankashti Vrat Katha

Bhalachandra Sankashti Vrat Katha

Mother Parvati was listening to the story and importance of all the Chaturthi dates coming throughout the year from Lord Ganesha. Mother Parvati said to Lord Ganesha – O Gajanan, according to Purnimanta Hindu calendar, which form of yours is worshiped on the Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month? And what is its procedure?"

Answering the question of Mother Parvati, Lord Ganesha said – "O Mother, my Bhalachandra form should be worshipped on the Chaturthi of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month. On this day, one should observe fast for the whole day and at the end one should worship my Shodashopachara. On the day of Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi, the devotee should fast after drinking Panchagavya after the Brahmin feast. This fast destroys all the obstacles. By duly observing this fast, a person attains all the achievements.

O mother of the world! I will make you listen to a story related to Bhalachandra Sankashti Vrat, please listen to it carefully.

In ancient times there was a very pious and mighty king named Mayurdhwaj. In the kingdom of Mayurdhwaj, all the people were living a happy and tension-free life. The king was always engaged in religious activities. But despite performing various types of religious rituals, Havan, Yajna etc., the king had no son. After trying various types of measures, finally with the grace and blessings of Maharishi Yajnavalkya, they got a beautiful son. After getting the son, the king handed over the entire kingdom to his minister Dharampal and started spending time with his son and family.

After getting the responsibility of the entire kingdom, minister Dharampal also started ruling with various types of pleasures. Over time, the minister was blessed with five sons. When the time came, the marriages of all the sons were completed and everyone along with their families started living happily. Minister Dharampal's fifth and youngest daughter-in-law was daily engrossed in worship and religious activities etc. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha and worshipped Him properly.

Once Chaitra Krishna Paksha Chaturthi arrived, the minister's younger daughter-in-law observed fast and worshiped Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi with full rituals. Seeing her daughter-in-law worshiping in this manner, her mother-in-law began to object and said, "What kind of Tantrik worship are you doing? What is your purpose? Are you using Vashikarana on my son? This worship should be stopped immediately, stop it now."

Hearing such harsh words from her mother-in-law, the daughter-in-law said, "Mother! This is not any kind of Tantrik worship. I am fasting and worshiping Sankashti dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesha with the wish for the safety and well-being of my family. Because of this fast, all kinds of troubles in life are averted and the living being achieves his goals without any hindrance. Therefore, I cannot leave this Puja incomplete."

When the daughter-in-law argued, the mother-in-law became very angry and said, "I don't believe in any Lord Ganesha, you have to stop all these tantra-mantras." After saying this to her daughter-in-law, the mother-in-law instigated her son against her and said, "Your wife is using Tantra to harm us, so you will have to make her understand, otherwise we will have to face serious trouble.

After being misled by his mother, the son started harassing his wife in various ways to stop her from worshiping Sankashti Chaturthi. But despite enduring various types of tortures, the daughter-in-law completed the Bhalachandra Sankashti fast with devotion. After completing the Puja, she started praying to Lord Shri Ganesha compassionately, "O Gajanana Ganapati! The intellect of my mother-in-law and husband has become confused. Please remind them of your glory. O Parvati Nandan! Create such a Leela that, trust in you can awaken in my mother-in-law and husband's heart."

Bhaktavatsala Lord Shri Ganesha heard the pitiful cry of his devotee and he thought of an idea. Ganesh ji, through his magic, kidnapped the crown prince son of King Mayurdhwaj and hid him in the palace of minister Dharampal. Ganesh ji left the prince's clothes and jewelery at a place in Dharampal's palace. When King Mayurdhwaj did not see his son in his palace, he became worried. The king, distraught, started searching for the prince in all directions. While searching for his son, he reached the palace of minister Dharampal, where the king saw his son's clothes, ornaments etc. lying there. Seeing his son's clothes and ornaments in this condition, the king, oh prince! Oh, my dear son! and started crying out for his son in various ways.

The king immediately ordered the minister to find his son. King Mayurdhwaj also said that, if minister Dharampal did not find the prince safe, he would be given death sentence. The minister searched a lot but could not find the prince anywhere. The minister got scared and appeared before the king and said, "Maharaja! I sent spies and soldiers everywhere, I also searched myself, but no information was found about the prince. There is no such criminal or kidnapper in our kingdom who would commit any kind of audacity."

Hearing the minister's words, the king became angry and said, "Wicked minister! My son's clothes and jewelery have been recovered from your palace. If you do not give me any information about my son soon, then get ready for death penalty." Seeing the king in extreme anger, the minister became frightened and came to his palace and started inquiring about the prince from his family members. He became upset and said, "If anyone knows anything about the king's son, then tell him immediately, otherwise the king will destroy me completely."

Seeing minister Dharampal in a frightened state, his youngest daughter-in-law said, "O father! My mother-in-law and husband had insulted Lord Shri Ganesha. All this is the result of that. Due to the wrath of Lord Ganesha, the king's son Has become invisible. Therefore, the king and all the people will have to fast on Sankashti Chaturthi, due to which Gaurinandan Ganesha will definitely give it back to the prince."

The minister repeatedly apologized to his daughter-in-law and said, O Sulakshani! You are the one who will benefit our family. Please tell me the method of worshiping Lord Ganesha. We are ignorant, who are not aware of the glory of Lord Ganesha. Therefore, please inform us about the rules of Sankashti fast and help us find the prince." The daughter-in-law told him the rules of Sankashti fast, according to which the king along with the entire people observed the fast and completed the rituals by worshiping Lord Ganesha with devotion.

Lord Ganesha was pleased with the devotional worship of all of them and immediately he presented the king's son in front of everyone. Seeing his son safe in front of him, the king was very happy and an atmosphere of joy spread among the people too. The king thanked Minister Dharampal's daughter-in-law and asked all the townspeople to always observe Sankashti fast.

॥Iti Shri Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi Katha Sampurnah॥

Mahatmya

Shri Ganesh ji said to Mata Parvati– "O Mother, Chaitra Krishna Paksha Chaturthi fast is the best among all the worlds, there is no other fast in this world and all other worlds. Lord Shri Krishna had made Yudhishthira ji listen to this story. Yudhishthir ji regained his lost kingdom by fasting on Bhalachandra Sankashti of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month."