The story of Ganesha Chaturthi and the moon sighting involves Lord Krishna being falsely accused of stealing the Syamantaka Mani jewel after he accidentally saw the moon on the day of the festival. Sage Narada explained that Ganesha had cursed the moon, and anyone who looked at it on that day would be falsely accused, a condition known as Mithya Dosha. To free himself from the curse, Krishna performed a Ganesh Chaturthi fast and offered prayers to Lord Ganesha, a practice that devotees now follow to avoid the same affliction.
The story in detail
- The curse of Ganesha: On his birthday, Lord Ganesha, after overeating, was riding his mouse-vehicle when he fell due to a snake. The moon laughed at his predicament, which angered Ganesha. In a fit of rage, Ganesha cursed the moon that anyone who looked at it on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi would face false accusations and dishonor.
- Krishna's false accusation: Lord Krishna unknowingly looked at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi. Shortly after, the precious Syamantaka Mani, a jewel gifted by the Sun God to a devotee named Satrajit, went missing, and Krishna was blamed for the theft.
- The resolution: Sage Narada explained to Krishna the reason for the false accusation, which was Ganesha's curse. To clear his name, Krishna observed a fast on Ganesh Chaturthi and performed prayers and worship to Lord Ganesha. This act not only absolved him of the curse but also helped him recover the jewel from Jambavan, an ally of Lord Rama, notes yensures.com and this Facebook post.
- The tradition today: Due to this event, it is considered inauspicious to see the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi. If one sees the moon accidentally, the tradition is to observe a fast or recite the story of Krishna and the Syamantaka jewel to be absolved of the Mithya Dosha.
Om Gam Ganapathaye Namah
Om Saravana Bhava
Om Dum Dur Durgayai Namaha
Om Namah Shivaya
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