Shankatahara chaturthi

Sankatahara chaturthi or Sankashti is very auspicious for worshipping Lord Ganesha. Devotees observe fast throughout the day. In the evening, Ganesha is worshipped with darbha by chanting stotras like Ashtotram, Ganesha Atharvaseersha, Sankatanashana Ganesha stotras and conclude the pooja by offering modaks/vundrallu and break their fast after sighting moon.

Sankata means crisis. Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles/crisis in one's life. He converts problematic life into prosperous. Sankatahara chaturthi falling on Tuesday is considered very auspicious called "Angaraka Sankatahara Chaturthi".
 
Click here to do shankatahara charhurthi pooja in tamil
 

How to observe the fast?
 
A normal Chathurthi occurs during the Chathurthi of Sukkila Patcham or during the waxing of the moon. A Sankata Hara Chathurthi occurs during the waning of the moon or Krishna Patcham. Sankata Hara Chathurthi has a different set of observances and rites.
 
Its something like this.

The presiding deity for Sankata Hara Chathurthi is Shankashta Naasana GaNapathi or Shankashta Hara
Ganapathi.

'Shankashta' is extreme difficulties which are a bug-bear and which cannot be overcome; all the time bugging and hassling and causing mental torture. In Tamil it is called Sankadam. Hara is 'getting rid off; destroying'. The Ganapathi who gets rid of your Sankashtam for you is the Sankashta Nasana Ganapathi. He is also known as Shankashtahara Ganapathi. In Tamil we refer to him as 'Sankadahara Ganapathi' Sankata Hara Ganapathi is four armed with a Sakthi.

The observance starts from before sun-rise. You have to fast.  There are several pujais that have to be made.
Specific Sthothras are also to be recited.  In Sanskrit, there is the Shankashta Naasana Ganapathi SthOthra. It is also known as the Dvadhasa Naama Sthothram.  These twelve names in that sequence or combination
have the power to remove sankatams.  Its a beautiful piece of hymn comprising of the twelve special names of Sankata Hara Ganapathi .....

It goes something like this:

'Prathamam VakrathuNTanja EkaDhantham dvithIyakam...'

In Tamil, the 'Kaariya Siddhi Maalai' and 'Vinayakar porri Thudhi' are recited. It would sound like the Rig Vedha Chandhas if you read it with the correct intonation. You can only drink water during the fast..  After nightfall, you have to wait for the moon-rise.   The moon would rise only after 10-30 pm during a Krisha Patcha Chathurthi.  You have to do what is known as Chandra Darisanam.  

During the fasting period you can take Fruits, etc.  The imporatant thing is you should recite or hear pooja katha.

Also Om Gum Ganapathaye Namaha -very effective recite 108 times before you start the actual pooja.


To do the Puja :

Decorate the photo of Lord Ganesh with available flowers.

At night just before moon rise finish cooking and chant the Ashtothra, the Sankata Nasana Ganesha Stotram (either both or only the Sankata Nasana Ganesha Stotram however convinient).

Offer 2 coconuts, banana, flowers to the Lord, also offer some fragrance sticks, offer the prasad prepared and then Aarathi also. Sing the song Jaya dev jaya dev and ask for his blessings.

Regarding moon rise, sometimes due to the clouds etc., moon may not be visible at the specified time. In that case after the moon rise timings one may perform the puja. Modaks can also be prepared

Please see these links for Sri Sankata Nasana Ganesha Stotram and Sri Ganesha Astottara shatanamavali

For Ganesha Pooja Slokas click here_…


SANKATANASANA GANESA STHOTHRAM (By reciting this sloka, one will acquire good  education wealth,etc.)

Naradha Uvacha :

Pranamya sirasa devam Gowriputhram Vinayakam

Bhakthya vyasa smaren nithya,Mayu kama artha sidhaye. ---1

Prathamam vakrathundamscha Ekadhantham dhvithiyakam
Thrutheeyam Krishna pingaksham Gajavakthram Chathurthakam ---2

Lambodharam panchamamcha shashtam vikatameva cha
Sapthamam Vignarajancha Dhoomravarnam thathashtam ---3

Navamam Balachandramcha dhasamanthu Vinayakam
Ekadasam Ganapathim dhvadhasanthu Gajanamam ---4

Dhvadhasaithani namani thrisandhyam yah patten naraha
Na cha vignabayam thasya sarvasiddhikaram prabho ---5

Vidyarthi labathe vidyam dhanarthi labathe dhanam
Puthrarthi labathe puthran moksharthi labathe gathim ---6

Japeth Ganapathi sthothram shadbirmasai palam labeth
Samvathsareaba siddhincha labathe naathra samsayaha ---7

Ashtabhyo Brahmanebhyascha likithva yah samarpaeth
Thasya vidya baveth sarvaa Ganesya prasadhathaha ---8

Ithi Sri Narada Purane Samkashta nasanam Ganapathi stotram Sampoornam.


Ganesha Astothara shatanamavali

Om Gajananaya namah
Om Ganadhyakshaya namah
Om Vignarajaya namah
Om Vinayakaya namah
Om Dwimaturaya namah
Om Dwimukhaya namah
Om Pramukhaya namah
Om Sumukhaya namah
Om Krutine namah
Om Supradeepaya namah
Om Sukhanidhaye namah
Om Suradhyakshaya namah
Om Surarighnaya namah
Om Mahaganapataye namah
Om Manyaya namah
Om Mahakalaya namah
Om Mahabalaya namah
Om Herambaya namah
Om Lambajatharaya namah
Om Haswagrivaya namah
Om Mahodaraya namah
Om Madotkataya namah
Om Mahaviraya namah
Om Mantrine namah
Om Mangalaswarupaya namah
Om Pramodaya namah
Om Pradhamaya namah
Om Pragnaya namah
Om Vignagatriye namah
 Om Vignahantre namah
Om Viswanetraya namah
Om Viratpataye namah
Om Sripataye namah
Om Vakpataye namah
Om Srungarine namah
Om Ashritavatsalaya namah
Om Shivapriyaya namah
Om Sheeghrakarine namah
Om Saswataya namah
Om Balaya namah
Om Balodhitaya namah
Om Bhavatmajaya namah
Om Puranapurushaya namah
Om Pushne namah
Om Pushkarochita namahya
Om Agraganyaya namah
Om Agrapujyaya namah
Om Agragamine namah
Om Mantrakrutaye namah
Om Chamikaraprabhaya namah
Om Sarvaya namah
Om Sarvopasyaya namah
Om Sarvakartre namah
Om Sarvanetraya namah
 Om Sarvasiddhipradaya namah
Om Sarvasiddaye namah
Om Panchahastaya namah
Om Parvatinadanaya namah
Om Prabhave namah
Om Kumaragurave namah
Om Akshobhyaya namah
Om Kunjarasurabhanjanaya namah
Om Pramodaptanayanaya namah
Om Modakapriya namah
Om Kantimate namah
Om Dhrutimate namah
Om Kamine namah
Om Kavidhapriyaya namah
Om Brahmacharine namah
Om Brahmarupine namah
Om Brahmavidhyadhipaya namah
Om Jishnave namah
Om Vishnupriyaya namah
Om Bhaktajivitaya namah
Om Jitamanmadhaya namah
Om Ishwaryakaranaya namah
Om Jayase namah
Om Yakshakinnerasevitaya namah
Om Gangansutaya namah
Om Ganadhisaya namah
Om Gambhiraninadaya namah
Om Vatave namah
Om Abhishtavaradaya namah
Om Jyotishe namah
Om Bhktanidhaye namah
Om Bhavagamyaya namah
Om Mangalapradaya namah
Om Avyaktaya namah
Om Aprakrutaparakramaya namah
Om Satyadharmine namah
Om Sakhye namah
Om Sarasambhunidhaye namah
Om Mahesaya namah
Om Divyangaya namah
Om Manikinkinimekhalaya namah
Om Samastadivataya namah
Om Sahishnave namah
Om Satatodditaya namah
Om Sahishnave namah
Om Satatodditaya namah
Om Vighatakarine namah
Om Viswadrushe namah
Om Viswarakshakrute namah
Om Kalyanagurave namah
Om Unmattaveshaya namah
Om Avarajajite namah
Om Samstajagadhadharaya namah
Om Sarwaishwaryaya namah
Om Akrantachidakchutprabhave namah
Om Srivigneswaraya namah

Here is an important difference between Krishna Paksha Chathurthi and Shukla Paksha Chathurthi. You can't look at the moon on the ShuklaPaksha Chathurthi. It would bring a dosha which is known as 'Mithya-apavaadha-dhosham'. This dhosham makes a person be victimised to false accusation.

On the contrary, an important act during the Krishna paksha Chathurthi is the looking at of the Moon; this is
called Chandra Darsana. This is an essential component of the fast and worship during that day.  Then you perform pujai for Vinayaka, Chandra, and Mars.  On this chathurthi day, the Planet Mars and the Moon had worshipped Ganapathi and attained great boons.

People with Sevvaay Dosham can worship the Ganapathi on this day.  That is why, when this day falls on a Tuesday, it is regarded as very special. It is sometimes known as Maha Sankatahara Chathurthi.  The Sankatahara Chathurthi falling in the month of Maasi is very special.  It is very auspicious if a Maasi or Maaga Sankatahara Chathurthi falls on a Tuesday.

'Arugam pul' occupies an important place. You have to use it for the pujai.  The important naivedhyam of the day is Modhakam.  PaasippayaRu sundal, bananas, thaambuulam, coconut, and milk and honey can be offered.  But of course, there is always the exception to the rule - when you can't get these things.

Yadha Shakthi: Those people who are afflicted with bad lunar effects or any form of negative effects of Mars - Sevaay - in any way, are advised to do this worship. And that is putting things in a nut-shell.

source: Agathiyaryahoogroups