Shankatahara chaturthi Sankatahara chaturthi or Sankashti is very auspicious for worshipping Lord Ganesha.

Devotees observe fast throughout the day. In the evening, Ganesha is worshipped with darbha by chanting stotras like Ashtotram, Ganesha Atharvaseersha, Sankatanashana Ganesha stotras and conclude the pooja by offering modaks/vundrallu and break their fast after sighting moon. Sankata means crisis. Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles/crisis in one's life. He converts problematic life into prosperous. Sankatahara chaturthi falling on Tuesday is considered very auspicious called "Angaraka Sankatahara Chaturthi". Click here to do shankatahara charhurthi pooja in tamil

How to observe the fast? A normal Chathurthi occurs during the Chathurthi of Sukkila Patcham or during the waxing of the moon. A Sankata Hara Chathurthi occurs during the waning of the moon or Krishna Patcham. Sankata Hara Chathurthi has a different set of observances and rites. Its something like this. The presiding deity for Sankata Hara Chathurthi is Shankashta Naasana GaNapathi or Shankashta Hara Ganapathi. 'Shankashta' is extreme difficulties which are a bug-bear and which cannot be overcome; all the time bugging and hassling and causing mental torture. In Tamil it is called Sankadam. Hara is 'getting rid off; destroying'. The Ganapathi who gets rid of your Sankashtam for you is the Sankashta Nasana Ganapathi. He is also known as Shankashtahara Ganapathi. In Tamil we refer to him as 'Sankadahara Ganapathi' Sankata Hara Ganapathi is four armed with a Sakthi. The observance starts from before sun-rise. You have to fast. There are several pujais that have to be made. Specific Sthothras are also to be recited. In Sanskrit, there is the Shankashta Naasana Ganapathi SthOthra. It is also known as the Dvadhasa Naama Sthothram. These twelve names in that sequence or combination have the power to remove sankatams. Its a beautiful piece of hymn comprising of the twelve special names of Sankata Hara Ganapathi ..... It goes something like this: 'Prathamam VakrathuNTanja EkaDhantham dvithIyakam...' In Tamil, the 'Kaariya Siddhi Maalai' and 'Vinayakar porri Thudhi' are recited. It would sound like the Rig Vedha Chandhas if you read it with the correct intonation. You can only drink water during the

fast.. After nightfall, you have to wait for the moon-rise. The moon would rise only after 10-30 pm during a Krisha Patcha Chathurthi. You have to do what is known as Chandra Darisanam. During the fasting period you can take Fruits, etc. The imporatant thing is you should recite or hear pooja katha. Also Om Gum Ganapathaye Namaha -very effective recite 108 times before you start the actual pooja.

To do the Puja : Decorate the photo of Lord Ganesh with available flowers. At night just before moon rise finish cooking and chant the Ashtothra, the Sankata Nasana Ganesha Stotram (either both or only the Sankata Nasana Ganesha Stotram however convinient). Offer 2 coconuts, banana, flowers to the Lord, also offer some fragrance sticks, offer the prasad prepared and then Aarathi also. Sing the song Jaya dev jaya dev and ask for his blessings. Regarding moon rise, sometimes due to the clouds etc., moon may not be visible at the specified time. In that case after the moon rise timings one may perform the puja. Modaks can also be prepared Please see these links for Sri Sankata Nasana Ganesha Stotram and Sri Ganesha Astottara shatanamavali For Ganesha Pooja Slokas click here_

SANKATANASANA GANESA STHOTHRAM (By reciting this sloka, one will acquire good education wealth,etc.) Naradha Uvacha : Pranamya sirasa devam Gowriputhram Vinayakam Bhakthya vyasa smaren nithya,Mayu kama artha sidhaye. ---1 Prathamam vakrathundamscha Ekadhantham dhvithiyakam Thrutheeyam Krishna pingaksham Gajavakthram Chathurthakam ---2 Lambodharam panchamamcha shashtam vikatameva cha Sapthamam Vignarajancha Dhoomravarnam thathashtam ---3 Navamam Balachandramcha dhasamanthu Vinayakam Ekadasam Ganapathim dhvadhasanthu Gajanamam ---4

Dhvadhasaithani namani thrisandhyam yah patten naraha Na cha vignabayam thasya sarvasiddhikaram prabho ---5 Vidyarthi labathe vidyam dhanarthi labathe dhanam Puthrarthi labathe puthran moksharthi labathe gathim ---6 Japeth Ganapathi sthothram shadbirmasai palam labeth Samvathsareaba siddhincha labathe naathra samsayaha ---7 Ashtabhyo Brahmanebhyascha likithva yah samarpaeth Thasya vidya baveth sarvaa Ganesya prasadhathaha ---8 Ithi Sri Narada Purane Samkashta nasanam Ganapathi stotram Sampoornam.

Ganesha Astothara shatanamavali Om Gajananaya namah Om Ganadhyakshaya namah Om Vignarajaya namah Om Vinayakaya namah Om Dwimaturaya namah Om Dwimukhaya namah Om Pramukhaya namah Om Sumukhaya namah Om Krutine namah Om Supradeepaya namah Om Sukhanidhaye namah Om Suradhyakshaya namah Om Surarighnaya namah Om Mahaganapataye namah Om Manyaya namah Om Mahakalaya namah Om Mahabalaya namah Om Herambaya namah Om Lambajatharaya namah Om Haswagrivaya namah Om Mahodaraya namah Om Madotkataya namah Om Mahaviraya namah Om Mantrine namah Om Mangalaswarupaya namah Om Pramodaya namah

Om Pradhamaya namah Om Pragnaya namah Om Vignagatriye namah Om Vignahantre namah Om Viswanetraya namah Om Viratpataye namah Om Sripataye namah Om Vakpataye namah Om Srungarine namah Om Ashritavatsalaya namah Om Shivapriyaya namah Om Sheeghrakarine namah Om Saswataya namah Om Balaya namah Om Balodhitaya namah Om Bhavatmajaya namah Om Puranapurushaya namah Om Pushne namah Om Pushkarochita namahya Om Agraganyaya namah Om Agrapujyaya namah Om Agragamine namah Om Mantrakrutaye namah Om Chamikaraprabhaya namah Om Sarvaya namah Om Sarvopasyaya namah Om Sarvakartre namah Om Sarvanetraya namah Om Sarvasiddhipradaya namah Om Sarvasiddaye namah Om Panchahastaya namah Om Parvatinadanaya namah Om Prabhave namah Om Kumaragurave namah Om Akshobhyaya namah Om Kunjarasurabhanjanaya namah Om Pramodaptanayanaya namah Om Modakapriya namah Om Kantimate namah Om Dhrutimate namah Om Kamine namah Om Kavidhapriyaya namah Om Brahmacharine namah Om Brahmarupine namah

Om Brahmavidhyadhipaya namah Om Jishnave namah Om Vishnupriyaya namah Om Bhaktajivitaya namah Om Jitamanmadhaya namah Om Ishwaryakaranaya namah Om Jayase namah Om Yakshakinnerasevitaya namah Om Gangansutaya namah Om Ganadhisaya namah Om Gambhiraninadaya namah Om Vatave namah Om Abhishtavaradaya namah Om Jyotishe namah Om Bhktanidhaye namah Om Bhavagamyaya namah Om Mangalapradaya namah Om Avyaktaya namah Om Aprakrutaparakramaya namah Om Satyadharmine namah Om Sakhye namah Om Sarasambhunidhaye namah Om Mahesaya namah Om Divyangaya namah Om Manikinkinimekhalaya namah Om Samastadivataya namah Om Sahishnave namah Om Satatodditaya namah Om Sahishnave namah Om Satatodditaya namah Om Vighatakarine namah Om Viswadrushe namah Om Viswarakshakrute namah Om Kalyanagurave namah Om Unmattaveshaya namah Om Avarajajite namah Om Samstajagadhadharaya namah Om Sarwaishwaryaya namah Om Akrantachidakchutprabhave namah Om Srivigneswaraya namah Here is an important difference between Krishna Paksha Chathurthi and Shukla Paksha Chathurthi. You can't look at the moon on the ShuklaPaksha Chathurthi. It would bring a dosha which is known as 'Mithya-apavaadha-dhosham'. This dhosham makes a person be victimised to false accusation.

On the contrary, an important act during the Krishna paksha Chathurthi is the looking at of the Moon; this is called Chandra Darsana. This is an essential component of the fast and worship during that day. Then you perform pujai for Vinayaka, Chandra, and Mars. On this chathurthi day, the Planet Mars and the Moon had worshipped Ganapathi and attained great boons. People with Sevvaay Dosham can worship the Ganapathi on this day. That is why, when this day falls on a Tuesday, it is regarded as very special. It is sometimes known as Maha Sankatahara Chathurthi. The Sankatahara Chathurthi falling in the month of Maasi is very special. It is very auspicious if a Maasi or Maaga Sankatahara Chathurthi falls on a Tuesday. 'Arugam pul' occupies an important place. You have to use it for the pujai. The important naivedhyam of the day is Modhakam. PaasippayaRu sundal, bananas, thaambuulam, coconut, and milk and honey can be offered. But of course, there is always the exception to the rule - when you can't get these things. Yadha Shakthi: Those people who are afflicted with bad lunar effects or any form of negative effects of Mars - Sevaay - in any way, are advised to do this worship. And that is putting things in a nut-shell.