Mahaa Sankatahara Chaturthi vratam on August 28, 2010

Dear Members:

The auspicious Mahaa Sankatahara chaturthi vratam is to be observed on August 28, 2010 this year throughout the world.

Sankatahara chaturthi is the 4th lunar phase after Full Moon every month, and observance of this vratam is believed to remove all obstacles in life. The vratam is done by fasting from early morning of the day, doing pooja to Lord Ganesha around sunset, and breaking the fast after sighting the orb of the Moon's crescent; if the orb is not visible, you can break the fast at approximiately 1-1/2 hours after sunset or after the time of Moonrise at your place (to be calculated using ephemirides).

Mahaa Sankatahara chaturthi is the sankatahara chaturthi that is observed one fortnight before Vinaayaka chaturthi. As the name implies, this is the grandest of all the Sankatahara chaturthis and hence highly efficacious. Lord Ganesha is already the God who removes obstacles......and to propitiate Him on a day that is specifically indicated as auspicious for removal of obstacles if prayers are done on His Honour is twice powerful in this regard! The added flavour to this vrata this year is that it falls on Saturday - ruled by Saturn, and we know that prayers to Lord Ganesha are efficacious in controlling the ill-effects of Saturn, and so, anyone suffering from adverse effects or obstacles arising out of Saturn's major or sub periods, or sade-sathi periods can benefit by this vratam very much.

Those who can afford might try organizing a full-fledged Fire worship on this day in Honour of Lord Ganesha with the aim of turning obstacles into opportunities, and to get relief from all stresses in life. Those who cannot afford to do individual homams, can participate in community homams (havans) that will be organized by temples/ spiritual communities in their vicinity; those who cannot do that too, can simply fast on that day, and recite mantras like "Om Vigna vinaashanaaya namah " (Hail to Remover of all obstacles), Sangashtanaashana Ganesha sthothram from Ganesha Puraana, etc. around sunset and get benefitted by such prayers.

May our members observe this auspicious vratam and enjoy the bliss of life where obstacles turn into opportunities by His Grace:)

Blessed be.

Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI.