Gajanana Sankashti Chaturthi
Also called: Gajanana Ganesha Chaturthi
Dedicated to Gajanana Ganesha ('the elephant-faced form'). The Mudgala Purana records Gajanana as the vanquisher of Lobhasura (the demon of greed and covetousness). Observed during the sacred month of Shravana, it integrates Shaivite devotion with Ganesha worship.
Key facts
- Paksha
- Krishna Paksha
- Lunar month
- Ashadha (Amanta); Shravana (Purnimanta)
- Deities
- Lord Ganesha (Gajanana Peetha), Chandra Dev, Lord Shiva
The story
When Lobhasura conquered heaven by inflaming insatiable desire across all beings, Sage Raibhya taught the gods to worship Gajanana Ganesha. Upon seeing Ganesha's majestic form, Lobhasura renounced greed and promised never to torment the virtuous.
Practices
- Joint worship of Lord Shiva with bilva leaves and Ganesha with durva grass
- Charity of food and grains to the hungry to counteract greed
- Chanting of the Ganesha Atharvashirsha during evening twilight
Regional variations
- Deeply celebrated alongside Shravana Somwar fasts across North, Central, and South India
Common questions
- Why is this observance tied to overcoming greed?
- Gajanana subdues the inner urge of insatiable desire, teaching that true contentment arises from devotion and sharing.
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