Kritaveerya and the Sankashti Vratam

Karthaveeryarjuna, a king from the Haihaya dynasty, was a powerful ruler who even defeated Ravana. His father was Kritaveerya. However, Kritaveerya had no children.

One day, Sage Narada visited the Pitruloka and informed Kritaveerya’s father that their lineage was on the verge of ending. Distressed, Kritaveerya’s father went to Brahmaloka and expressed his sorrow to Lord Brahma:
'My son Kritaveerya is devoted to performing yajnas and giving charity. For the sake of having children, he has undertaken many good deeds and has now entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and retreated to the forest for penance. He has been surviving on air for a long time, and now his body is reduced to mere bones. He may die any day. If he has committed any sin in his previous birth, kindly tell us the remedy for it.'

Lord Brahma said, 'In his previous birth, your son was a robber named Sama. One day, he looted the wealth of twelve Brahmins traveling on the road and pushed them into a cave, killing them. This act of Brahmahatya (killing of Brahmins) is the reason for his childlessness. However, due to the merit of once calling out to his his son 'Ganesha' on a Chaturthi day during Krishna Paksha, he attained Swargaloka and was born as your son. Yet, the effects of the Brahmahatya sin need to be completely eradicated for him to have children. To achieve this, he must observe the Sankashti Vratam.'

Lord Brahma then explained the method of performing the Sankashti Vratam:

1. On the Krishna Paksha Chaturthi day, one must complete morning rituals such as brushing of teeth, etc. take 21 dips in water.
2. Abstain from food for the entire day.
3. Maintain silence.
4. Refrain from criticizing others, even in thought.
5. Chant Ganesha’s Ekakshara mantra ('Om Gam') and Shadakshara mantra ('Vakratundaya Hum') along with his other names.
6. Perform a Shodashopachara Puja to Ganesha and offer a variety of fruits as Naivedya.
7. Conduct Archana with 21 Durva grass blades.
8. Give Dakshina (offerings) to worthy Brahmins.

Kritaveerya’s father conveyed this in a dream to his son. Following this, Kritaveerya started observing the Sankashti Vratam from a Krishna Paksha Chaturthi that coincided with a Tuesday in the month of Magha. He continued this vratam for a year and was blessed with a child.

Lessons -

1. Lord Ganesha can remove even the gravest obstacles, including sins from past lives, through sincere devotion and observance of his vratam.
2. The Sankashti Vratam has the power to cleanse sins and grant blessings, including fulfilling desires such as progeny, when observed with faith and discipline.
3. Even a small act of devotion, like calling upon Ganesha with reverence, can yield significant results, such as divine births and blessings in this life or the next.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi