THE ORIGIN OF VINAYAKA VRATA

After losing his kingdom through the wiles of Duryodana and others, Dharmaraja entered the dense jungle infested with terrible wild beasts with his wife and brothers. There he saw the sages radiant with their tapas following rituals and living on air and water only! He reached the ashram of the great sage Suta, seated himself with his brothers and wife. He narrated how the Kauravas cheated them and humiliated Draupadi and created difficulties at every step. He requested Sage Suta to suggest a suitable Vrata by which they could regain their kingdom and glory. Suta, the compassionate sage described to them a particular Vrata that destroys all sins and grants all round prosperity, children,and happiness. Sage Suta said that this Vrata  was originally narrated by Lord Siva to his son Kumaraswamy. On an occasion, while Lord Siva was  seated on the resplendent diamond decked simhasana in Kailas, Kumaraswamy, for the well being of all humanity, asked the Lord to describe a Vrata that would make people healthy, wealthy and prosperous! He wanted the best of all Vratas even as the  Lord was very much pleased at this request of His son.

“One such great Vrata granting prosperity in all respects is Ganapati Vrata. It has to be performed on the fourth day of the waxing period of the lunar month of Bhadrapada. Early in the morning, after ablutions and sandhyavandanam, you have to get an idol of Vinayaka in gold, silver or at least earth. The idol should be placed in the north, on a pedestal, with the rangoli of a lotus with eight petals. Sri Vinayaka idol should be worshipped with utmost devotion and faith! Archanam should be done with flowers, garika or durva, a type of grass sacred to Vinayaka and twenty one different leaves! Naivedyam and harati have to be given to Lord Vinayaka later. Modaka is the special dish for Vinayaka and every item should be twenty one in number! All fruits dear to the elephant  must be offered  along with recitation of the Vedas, dance and other ‘ shodasopacharas’, sixteen types of offerings! After offering ‘Vayana’ danam to Vedic brahmins, the feast can be shared with relatives and kith and kin. The worship should be done on the next day also in the same manner. This Vrata is considered as the best of all Vratas in all the three worlds! In the previous Kalpa Devas,sages, Gandharvas and Kinnaras and many others performed this Vrata and obtained the benefits.” said Lord Siva to Kumaraswamy!  Sage Suta directed Dharmaraja to perform Vinayaka Vrata with dedication and devotion to get back everything that he has lost! No doubt has to be entertained with regard to the effect or the efficacy of this Vratha! Victory is assured definitely!

Many are those who had performed this Vinayaka Vrata on earth. Darling Damayanti  married king Nala by performing this Vrata! Lord Krishna married the beautiful Jambavati after performing the Vrata! He had the fabulous precious stone,’ Syamantaka Mani’ soon after performing this Vinayaka Vrata! Indra, king of Devas could kill the demon Vrutrasura only after doing this Vrata! Sri Rama could retrieve his spouse Sita not before performing Vinayaka Vrata!  Bhagiratha, the ancestor of Ikshvaku clan brought river Ganga from heaven to earth after performing this Vrata! Before Obtaining 'amrita’ Devas and asuras performed the Vrata on Vinayaka! Samba performed this Vrata to free himself from leprosy!  Dharmaraja followed the advice of  Sage Suta, performed Vinayaka Vrata as per instructions with faith, devotion and dedication and regained his kingdom and lost glory

As whatever desire one has in his heart is fulfilled by Lord Vinayaka, He is called Siddhi Vinayaka! Worshipped before starting education, the person becomes highly educated! He will be victorious by worshipping the Lord! People desirous of Children shall be blessed with them! Unmarried girls Shall have suitable grooms by the grace of Lord Vinayaka! Sumangalis shall have long life! If a widow performs the Vrata, she will not have widowhood in her next birth! This Vinayaka Vrata can be performed by all classes of society viz Brahmana, kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudras. Women and children too can perform this Vrata with faith and devotion according to the method indicated! As instructed by  the great Sage Suta , Yudhistira performed  Vinayaka Vrata,   got back his kingdom and glory  and lived happily!

The story of Vinayaka Vrata is from the SKANDA PURANA as a dialogue between Umamaheswara! There are other versions of the stories on Vinayaka! There is a belief that one should not see the moon on this fourth day of the waxing moon! It is said that once the moon made fun of Vinayka and his large belly. Vinayaka grew angry and cursed that anyone observing the moon on that day shall be subjected to needless trouble and talk! It is also believed that Lord Krishna, by chance saw the moon on Vinayaka chaturthi and was subjected to needless worry! Krishna was charged with the theft of ‘Syamanthakamani’ owned by Satrajit for no fault of his! Later Krishna goes in search of it, retrieves it from the cave of Jambavan and marries his daughter Jambavati! Vinayaka Chaturthi is a very popular national festival and people vie with one another in having large sized Vinayaka of different types. Mumbaikars are mad after celebrating the festival for days together! Let us hope that Lord Vinayaka will remove all impediments in the progress of our Nation and ensure peace and happiness to all in the world!