Śivā and Śāntā Caturthī

Śivā and Śāntā Caturthī · śivā śāntā caturthī, “the fourth days named Śivā and Śāntā”

Sumantu Muni tells King Śatānīka in the Caturthī Kalpa of the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa (Chapter 31) that Caturthī tithi is of three kinds: Śivā, Śāntā and Sukhā. Śivā is Bhādrapada śukla caturthī and Śāntā is Māgha śukla caturthī. Both are kept with snāna, dāna and gifts of jaggery and salt, for the grace of Vighneśvara.

Śivā Caturthī

Bhādrapada śukla caturthī is worshipped by the world under the name Śivā. For one who does snāna, dāna, upavāsa and japa on that day, the grace of Vighneśvara stands by him a hundredfold.

To give jaggery, salt and ghee is auspicious, and to feed brāhmaṇas with sweets of jaggery gives puṇya. Women who worship Gaṇapati that day with jaggery, salt and sweets win the love of their husband’s parents, and by his grace they all become saubhāgyavatīs. Maidens especially should worship him in this way. So it is in the Śivā Kalpa.

Śāntā Caturthī

Māgha śukla caturthī is called Śāntā, and it always gives śānti. Those who do snāna, dāna and other rites that day receive a thousandfold fruit by the prasāda of Vināyaka.

One who fasts, worships Vighnanāyaka by the rule and completes homa and the rest receives a thousandfold fruit. If salt, jaggery, śāka and sweets of jaggery are given to brāhmaṇas, the fruit is thousandfold. Women especially, who honour the guru with jaggery, salt and ghee, become saubhāgyavatīs. So it is in the Śāntā Kalpa.

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 31