ANGARKI SANKASHTI SHRI GANESH KARAK CHATURTHI (KARVA CHAUTH)

अंगारकी संकष्टी श्री गणेश चतुर्थी

Karak Chaturthi (करक चतुर्थी ) commonly known as Krava Chauth (करवा चौथ, ਕਰਵਾ ਚੌਥ).

Karak Chaturthi (Karva Chauth) is fasting festival for Hindu women for suhag or saubhagya (marital bliss) and well being. The moment we hear word ‘Karva Chauth’ an impression of a women offering water (Arghya) to moon appears in our imagination. Besides being a ritual of this fasting festival it has a deep spiritual significance.

Karak in Sanskrit means a pitcher or ‘pot with a spout’ for containing water used by Sanyasi

Chaturthi or chauth means fourth day after New Moon and Full Moon. In Hindu calendar each day is assigned to specific Daity and cathurthi is the day of Lord Ganesha.

यस्मादुमापतिः सार्ध्यमुमयातमधिष्ठि तः

तंदृष्ट्वाचाष्टमांशेन तस्मात् सोमोsभवच्छिशुः।।

source मत्स्य पुराणम्

In Matsya Puran (chapter 23) association of Moon with Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma Parvati is described how they crested Chandra (Moon) on there Shikhar (head). Consequently Chadrashekhar [1] is one the Shiva’s adjective. One name of Ganesha is Bhaal Chandra [2] (Moon on forehead) for the same. So Moon is integral part of Shiva Parivar. Monday being day of Shiva. Soma is Chandra thus Somwar in Sanskrit means day of moon.

So seeing Moon for worship is in fact symbolic of having a sight of Shiva Parivaar(family). Suhag Gauri is the Deity of Marital Bliss and Ganesha is source of all the Happiness is worshiped in this way.

Karva is used in tendering Jal Arghya (which is valuable and deserve to be offered. Water is one of the element of ( panchtatva puja ) to offer as a token of respect make offering of water by pouring it on deity thus falls on earth).

Karva Chauth occurs every year on Kartik Krishnapaksha Chaturthi as per Hindu calendar.

(Krishnapaksha is the waning moon fortnight in other words fortnight after full moon)

Many legends Katha associated with the Karva Chauth.

Reference

[1] ChanraShekhar ChanraShekhar ChanraShekhar Pahi Maam ।

ChanraShekhar ChanraShekhar ChanraShekhar Raksha Maam ।।

[2] Navamam BhalChandram cha Dashmam tu Vinayakam ।

Ekadasham  Ganpatim  Dvadasham  tu   Gajananam   ।।

source Narad Puranam