Sankashti as we all know is a festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Likewise, Vikata Sankashti is celebrated to honour Lord Ganpati. He is a god of virtue, enlightenment, prosperity and success. Praying to Lord Ganesh helps remove all the obstacles in life. He is referred to as “Buddhi ke Devta” meaning Lord that grants us intelligence.
Further, he relieves us of all our financial troubles and sorrows. According to our Hindu Panchang, Vikata Sankashti falls on Krishna Paksha in the month of Vaishakh. Devotees observe Sankashti fast to please Lord Ganesh and obtain his blessings.
The Story Behind Celebrating Vikata Sankashti
According to Hindu Vedic texts and scripts, once Chandra dev (moon) laughed at the physical appearance of Vighnaharta. Lord Ganesha got furious and cursed him. Chandra Dev eventually asked for forgiveness but the curse couldn’t be undone. On this day, the curse gets less and restores balance in the sky.
Another legend suggests, how Lord Shiva (father of Lord Ganesha) declared him as superior god. With this started the ritual of worshipping Lord Ganesha first before any deity worship.
Vikata is one of the thirty-two forms of Lord Ganesh. This form is among the fierce ones. It demonstrated ten hands and a lion as the vehicle of God. Worshipping Lord Ganesh in this form removes all the evil force out of one’s life and brings peace.
The Astrological and Vedic importance of observing Vikata Sankashti 2025
It is said that this day is highly auspicious. One who observes Vikata Sankashti on this day can cure all problems related to the mercury planet. This day is even more powerful when all the nakshatras and yoga come in alignment with each other. Important day for professionals, students and writers who need clarity in life and even want to clear communication blockages. Such people can fast on Vikata Sankashti and gain blessings from Lord Ganpati.
As this day arrives on the fourth day of the moon’s waning phase it also has spiritual importance. One who performs sadhanas can attain peace and align their energy with the cosmic power. This promotes positivity and peace in life. Alternatively, it detoxifies the body and increases concentration. All this allows a person to focus on inner self and attain spiritual growth.
Subh Muhurat of Vikata Sankashti 2025
The Vikata Sankashta tithi starts on 16th April at 1:16 pm. The fast must be observed until April 17 2025 at 3:23 pm. The moonrise timings on the sankashti day fall at 9:54 pm.
Vikata Sankashti Vrata Katha
The story begins with Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati playing chauras (a game of dice). During this time, Lord Shiva created a boy and asked him to keep an eye as the referee. The boy agreed and the game began. Maa Parvati won the game three times in a row. But the boy held Lord Shiva as the winner of the game. This furied Maa Parvati and she cursed the boy to live in a swamp.
The boy wailed in pain and asked for forgiveness from Maa Parvati. Later Devi Parvati asked the boy to keep waiting for the arrival of Naga Kanyas. She further instructed the boy to observe and to learn about Vikata Sankashti Vrat. By observing the 21-day fast the boy successfully lifted the curse off his life and lived in peace ever after.
Another Vrata katha associated with Vikata Sankashti is the birth of Lord Ganesha. A Vedic text depicts Mata Parvati creating a boy with turmeric paste. She named her Vinayaka. Later the boy was told to make to guard outside her snan kaksha (bath place). Vinayaka obeyed his mother and did not allow anyone to enter the room. Bhagwan Shiva was unaware of this and he tried to enter the place.
Furied by this Vinayaka tried to stop him and in a fit of rage, Lord Shiva cut off Vinayaka’s head. When Maa Parvati got to know this she became very angry and threatened Lord Shiva to destroy the world. On this Lord Shiva sent his subordinates to search for any head residing in the forest. The Shivgan’s found an elephant’s head and then Lord Shiva fixed the head on Vinayak’s body. This gave Vinayaka a new birth as Lord Ganesha.
Even Lord Shiva observed this fast to calm upset Maa Parvati. Vikata Sankashti Vrata is so powerful that it Maa Parvati kept this fast to call back her son Kartikeya. Hence, after the completion of fast Mata Parvati returned to Kailasa and Lord Murugan (Kartikeya) came to visit his mother.
Importance of observing Vikata Sankashti Vrata
It is said that one who observes Vikata Sankashti Vrata gains maternal happiness along with other benefits. Some of them are as follows:
- Performing this Vrata helps get rid of negative influences in life.
- Cleansing of Karmic debts from past and present life.
- Females are granted fertility blessings.
- Lord Ganesh helps with wisdom and intelligence in his devotees
- Observing this vrata is beneficial for married people who want to seek marital happiness.
- One who wishes to gain success and harmony in life can also observe the Vikata Sankashti Vrata.
Vrata Pooja Vidhi of Vikata Sankashti 2025
Here is the vrata ritual that one must observe on the sacred day of Vikata Sankashti
- Get up in the morning before sunrise and clean the house.
- Bath and wear clean clothes.
- Observe celibacy and observe fast with pure soul.
- Clean your pooja room and place a clean chowkai.
- Spread red cloth on the chowkai.
- Place Lord Ganesh’s idol on it.
- Perform Panchamrit Abhishekam to the lord with five ingredients such as milk, pure cow’s ghee, sugar and honey.
- Clean the idol and place it on the chowkai.
- Offer a ghee lamp and light incense stick and dhoop to Lord Ganesh.
- Offer sesame seeds, durva (fressh grasses), jaggery, sandalwood, banana and red flowers especially hibiscus along with naivadya such as modak and motichoor boondi Laddo to the idol.
- Perform Ganesh Arthi.
- Pray with sincerity and devotion.
- Chant Ganpati mantras such as “ ॐ गं गणपतये नमो नम: II “ 108 times.
- Recite different Ganesh shlokas like Ganpati Atharvashirsha.
- Read Vikata Sankashti Vrata katha.
- Perform daan dharma and give food to poor people and beggars.
- Give donations to the needy, feed cows and do brahman bhojan with Dakshina.
- Those observing fast must avoid grains and processed food instead rely on cows milk, coconut water and fruit based diet.
- In the evening during the moonrise ttihi offer arghya with water to the moon god.
Significance of Parayaan Kumkum for Ganpati Pooja
We at parayaan offer pure Parayaan Upangaa kumkum powder. This powder is made with high-quality limestone, essential oils and turmeric. Kumkum is applied on the forehead of Lord Ganesha. It is generally applied in the form of tilak. The same vermillion is then applied to the devotee’s forehead. This helps connect with divinity. These are free from industrial dyes and red dioxide. Crafted with purity and infused with Vedic mantras and are gentle and safe on the skin. Made with special karma Kanda practises. Highly biodegradable and suitable for Ganesh poojas on special occasions like Vikata Sankashti.
Special Ganpati Vedic Mantra Chants
People who want to receive immense blessings from Lord Ganesh can chant the following Vedic mantras related to the deity.
- ॐ वक्रतुण्डाय नम II for 11 times
- Also chant the mantra वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा।I for removing past sins.
- ॐ गं हस्ति पिशाचि लिखे स्वाहा।I
- ॐ मेघोत्काय स्वाहा।I
- ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ग्लौं गं गणपतये वर वरद सर्वजनं मे वशमानय स्वाहा॥ for good health.
Conclusion
Vikata Sankashti helps devotees attain solace and peace. While the Sankashti fast allows oneself free from financial problems and negativities in life. Pray to Lord Ganesh with great devotion and obtain his blessing on this special day. It is not one such random day but a perfect opportunities to enhance your spiritual strength and overcome all life difficulties.
