Dhundhiraja Chaturthi Vrat Katha in English

Story of King Hemangada's Abdominal pain and its cure

Maharaja Dasharatha said to his Guru Vasishtha - "O sage! I am still not satisfied after drinking the nectar of stories. Therefore, please now describe the greatness of Phalguna Shukla Paksha Chaturthi."

Sage Vasishtha said, "O best of kings! The Chaturthi of the bright fortnight of the month of Phalguna bestows boons. I am describing the significance of this fast. Listen carefully.

In the Malwa region , there was a magnificent city named Bharak , full of all kinds of splendor and splendor . That city was full of noble people who followed the path of righteousness. A pious king named Hemangad ruled that city with righteousness . King Hemangad was not only adept in the art of weaponry and warfare, but was also extremely knowledgeable and learned. He had conquered the entire world. Therefore, King Hemangad was respected and unanimously accepted by all kings, meaning all the kings of the earth respected him. He was also loved by Brahmins , gods , and guests .

One day, King Hemangad suddenly suffered from a disease called abdominal colic . That is, he began experiencing excruciating abdominal pain. The king felt heartbreaking pain, like a weapon striking his abdomen. Distressed by the unbearable pain, the king began to cry. Various mantras and medicines were used to treat the king's abdominal colic, but the pain only worsened. Subsequently, the king visited pilgrimage sites prescribed by Vedic scholars and worshipped deities, but his pain only worsened. The king's pain became so severe that he decided to commit suicide.

At that very moment, coincidentally, the great yogi Parvat Muni arrived at the king's palace. Suffering from stomach pain, the king offered his respectful obeisances to the sage and requested him to alleviate his stomach pain. King Hemangad said to Parvat Muni, "O great sage! By seeing your holy feet, my life has been successful, and my parents, sons, and all have become blessed." Saying this, the king fell to the ground in pain and began to cry. Seeing the king's condition, the Brahmins present there were astonished. Seeing the Brahmins' astonishment, Parvat Muni asked the king's secretaries , "O secretaries! How has King Hemangad suffered this terrible pain? Please tell me the reason for the king's plight."

The secretaries said, "O sage! Our king suffered from a severe abdominal pain. Many medicines, mantras, and remedies were used to alleviate the pain. We even visited numerous pilgrimage sites and worshipped various deities. However, the king was not relieved of the pain. Instead, his pain continued to increase."

Hearing this, Parvat Muni meditated and, upon discovering the king's sin, said, "O King! A grave sin has been committed in your kingdom, causing you to be afflicted with a thorn. O King! The Ganesh Chaturthi fast has completely ended in your kingdom. It is because of this collective fault that you, the gentleman, have suffered this hardship."

The king, with folded hands, said, 'O Mahatma! What kind of fast is this, who is worshipped in this fast and who started this fast in the past? Please satisfy my curiosity.'

Parvat Muni said - 'O King! As a result of this Ganesh Vrat, one gets success in all the works and attainment of all the four Purusharthas, that is, Dharma , Artha , Kama and Moksha . This Vrat is accepted in the whole world.' Saying this, the Muni described in detail the greatness of Chaturthi. Hearing the greatness, the king became very happy and said to Parvat Muni again - 'O great Muni! What is this Lord Ganesha like and what is his form? Please describe his form, I will meditate on his form and worship him.'

Parvat Muni said, "O King! I will now recount to you the events of Lord Ganesha that I have heard in the past. Listen carefully. O King! Once, I was performing austerities with a devoted devotion to the Dharma. My austerities heated up the entire earth. This austerity infuriated Lord Indra . He sent Kamadeva along with an Apsara to disrupt my meditation . However, the radiance of my austerity burned Kamadeva too. Indra then fled with Kamadeva. Subsequently, I practiced Shama and Dama , and attained self-realization. Some time later, when my fortune awakened, Yogiraj Nidagh Rishi, the supreme knower of the Avdhoot path , appeared there. I bowed to him with reverence and worshiped him. I said, "O great yogi! My austerities and I have been blessed by the sight of your feet, which bestow the status of Brahmabhuya. O Lord!" Please give me the knowledge of Yoga which gives peace, by practicing which I will become worthy of respect among the Yogis.

Now sage Vasishtha tells King Dasharatha, "O King! When sage Parvat asked this question of the great yogi Nidagha, the great ascetic Nidagha said to sage Parvat, "O Mountain! I will recount an ancient story that made me revered even by the kings of yogis. Listen to it. In the past, I practiced Mahayoga. Thereafter, I attained the bliss of the soul, the eternally blissful Swanand . O King! At that time, I witnessed the true bliss, permeated with duality and in that duality, the Yogi form. This brought me peace. Then, I went before Lord Vishnu . While I found peace, it was a form of duality, and I was in a dilemma. I said to Lord Vishnu, "O Lord! Please grant me the knowledge of the peaceful yoga that will give me peace." yes.'

Mahayogi Lord Vishnu said - 'O father! Know Ganesha who gives yogic peace . Knowing him, all of us Yogis will attain peace. In the word ' Gan' in his name , the 'G' letter is associated with mind and speech and the 'Na' letter is devoid of mind and speech. He may or may not be known through mind and speech. This is known from the word 'Gan' and his Lord is Ganesha. You should worship such Lord Ganesha in the prescribed manner, and you will undoubtedly attain peace from it.'

Having said this, Lord Vishnu became silent. I bowed to him and went to the forest and immersed myself in yoga practice and started worshipping Lord Ganesha with the one-letter mantra . After doing sadhana continuously for ten years, Ganapati became pleased with me and suddenly appeared before me. Seeing me engrossed in meditation, Ganesha said - 'O son! I am very pleased with your sadhana, ask for any boon you desire.'

I bowed to Lord Ganesha and worshiped him and started praising him with Samvedokta stotra . He was pleased with my praise and consoled me and disappeared from there. From that time onwards I became a devotee of Ganesh and started meditating on Lord Ganesha daily. Therefore, you also worship Gajanan Ganesha who provides ultimate peace. Saying this, Nidaagh Muni gave Mahamanu Mantra to Parvat Muni and after explaining the method of chanting Ekasakhar Mantra, he disappeared from there.

Parvat Muni said - 'O king! Since that time I continuously worship Lord Ganesha with devotion. Therefore, by chanting him, I attained peace and he gave me the darshan of his yogic form. I praised him and he went away in his bliss. Saying this, Parvat Muni recited the Dashakshar mantra of Lord Ganesha, i.e. Gan Ganapataye Namo Namah. Gave it to King Hemangad and disappeared from there."

Sage Vasishtha says, "O King Dasharatha! After receiving the mantra, King Hemangad first observed the auspicious fast of the Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha of Phalguna. The king announced everywhere that, 'All people in my kingdom must observe the fast on the Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha of every month.' Thereafter, due to the virtue of the fast, the king's stomach pain subsided and all other people also became free from diseases. All the people on the earth became prosperous with wealth, grains, sons and grandsons. In time, King Hemangad became completely immersed in the devotion of Lord Ganesha and after handing over the throne to his son , he attained supreme peace along with his wife and attained salvation. Thereafter, other people also gradually became blissful due to the glory of the fast."

Vashishtha says - "O best of kings, Dasharatha! Now listen to another great story related to Falgun Shukla Chaturthi. In ancient times, a Brahmin used to live in a city called Bharak, who had corrupted his religion. From childhood, he used to do things that caused pain to everyone like violence, theft, suffering, etc. When he grew older, he also started committing heinous crimes like murder and rape. He was a womanizer and used to kill wild animals and eat them. He used to kill even humans and Brahmins to loot wealth etc.

One day, the unrighteous man was wandering in the forest. He saw a Vaishya coming. The sinner ran towards him with the intention of killing him. Seeing the evil Brahmin approaching him, the Vaishya's son also started running and loudly called out for help. Hearing his call, four travelers passing by came there. Those four men took the Brahmin hostage and handed him over to the soldiers . The soldiers beat him severely and presented him in the royal court. The king punished the evil man for torturing him. Thereafter, the soldiers beat him mercilessly and threw him into a pit.

Meanwhile, Phalguna Shukla Chaturthi arrived, and the Brahmin remained there without food that day. Due to hunger and the torture of the soldiers, he died on the fifth day. After his death, messengers of Lord Ganesha appeared to take him away.

O great Dasharatha! The messengers of Lord Ganesha took him to Swanandpur where after seeing Ganapati, that sinful Brahmin also became Brahmabhoot . In this way, due to the effect of Chaturthi fast, many people became Brahmabhuta, it is not possible to describe the greatness of all of them. Therefore, whoever listens or recites the greatness of Chaturthi fast of Phalgun month, Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, fulfills all his wishes.

॥Thus the significance of Falgun Shukla Chaturthi described in Sri Mudgal Purana is complete.