Akhuratha Sankashti Chaturthi
Dedicated to Ganesha as Akhuratha, 'the one whose chariot is the mouse', from akhu (mouse) and ratha (chariot). The mouse, Ganesha's vehicle, is often read as restless desire held in check by wisdom. It is the Sankashti just before Lambodara Sankashti, the Sakat Chauth of North India.
Key facts
- Paksha
- Krishna Paksha
- Lunar month
- Margashirsha (Amanta); Pausha (Purnimanta)
- Deities
- Lord Ganesha (Akhuratha), Chandra Dev
The story
A popular story tells of Krauncha, a celestial musician (gandharva) who was cursed to become a giant mouse and ran wild, damaging fields and hermitages. Ganesha caught him with his noose (pasha), the mouse surrendered, and Ganesha made him his vehicle.
Practices
- Fasting through the day and breaking the fast after moonrise with Arghya to the moon
- Offering durva grass and modaks to Ganesha
- Listening to the Sankashti Ganesha katha with family
Common questions
- What does Akhuratha mean?
- Akhuratha means 'the one whose chariot is the mouse', from akhu (mouse) and ratha (chariot). It is one of Ganesha's names.
Types of Sankashti Chaturthi
- Lambodara Sankashti ChaturthiKrishna Chaturthi of Pausha/Magha
- Dwijapriya Sankashti ChaturthiMagha (Amanta); Phalguna (Purnimanta)
- Bhalachandra Sankashti ChaturthiPhalguna (Amanta); Chaitra (Purnimanta)
- Vikata Sankashti ChaturthiChaitra (Amanta); Vaishakha (Purnimanta)
- Ekadanta Sankashti ChaturthiVaishakha (Amanta); Jyeshtha (Purnimanta)
- Vibhuvana Sankashti ChaturthiAdhik Maas (only in years with an extra lunar month)
- Krishnapingala Sankashti ChaturthiJyeshtha (Amanta); Ashadha (Purnimanta)
- Gajanana Sankashti ChaturthiAshadha (Amanta); Shravana (Purnimanta)
- Heramba Sankashti ChaturthiShravana (Amanta); Bhadrapada (Purnimanta)
- Vighnaraja Sankashti ChaturthiBhadrapada (Amanta); Ashwin (Purnimanta)
- Vakratunda Sankashti ChaturthiAshwin (Amanta); Kartik (Purnimanta)
- Ganadhipa Sankashti ChaturthiKartik (Amanta); Margashirsha (Purnimanta)
- Akhuratha Sankashti ChaturthiMargashirsha (Amanta); Pausha (Purnimanta)
- Angarki Sankashti ChaturthiTuesday (Mangalwar) coinciding with Krishna Chaturthi