Angarika Chaturth (अंगारिका चतुर्थी) is a Sankashti Chaturthi falling on Tuesday. It is considered highly auspicious among all Sankashti Chaturthi days.
Sankashti Chaturthi (संकष्टी चतुर्थी), also known as Sankatahara Chaturthi, is an auspicious day dedicated to Ganesha. This day is celebrated in every lunar Hindu calendar month on the fourth day of the Krishna Paksha (the dark lunar phase or the waning fortnight of the moon).
History
According to Hindu teachings, Angarika, the son of Prithvi and Bharadvaja, was an accomplished rishi and a great devotee of Ganesha. He worshipped Ganesha and sought his blessings. On Magha Krishna Chaturthi (a Tuesday), Ganesha blessed him and asked him for a wish. Angarak expressed that his only wish was to be associated with Ganesha's name forever. The deity granted his wish and proclaimed that whoever worships Ganesha on Angarika Chaturthi will be granted all that he/she prays for. From that day onwards, Magh Krishna Chaturthi came to be known as Angarak Chaturthi.
Details
On the day of Angarika Sankashti Chaturthi, the devotees observe a strict fast from morning till evening. They break the fast at night after having a darshan/auspicious sighting of the moon, preceded by prayers and a pooja for Ganesha. The Angarika Chaturthi (angarak in Sanskrit means red like burning coal embers) devotees believe their wishes will be fulfilled if they pray on this auspicious day. The fast of Sankashti Chaturthi is generally started from the day "Angarika Sankashti Chaturthi". Also Angarika Sankashti means deliverance during troubled times, hence observing this fast is believed to reduce a person's problems, as Ganesha is the remover of all obstacles and the supreme lord of intelligence. Before moonlight, the Ganapati Atharvashesha is recited to summon the blessings of Ganesha.
Legend
Note: this is only one version of the story in which Ganesha gets his famous elephant head. The other, better-known version of this legend is completely different- it involves Shiva beheading a much older Ganesha and differs in many other ways as well.
Part 1: Sage Durvasa and Indra's meeting
Once, Sage Durvasa was travelling from Vaikuntha to Kailasa. He came upon Indra, who was spending time with the apsara Rambha. Indra bowed before Sage Durvasa in reverence, and Sage Durvasa, who was pleased, handed him a Parijata flower, and spoke the following words:
"O Indra, this is a flower given by the lord which removes all the obstructions and the person whose head it will be placed will be victorious all around. He will be adored by the people first of all and will be the foremost of all gods. Mahalakshmi will not part company from him and follow him like a shadow. He will equate himself with Vishnu in knowledge, wisdom, prowess. He will be more powerful than all gods and will be valorous like Vishnu."
Sage Durvasa left after this, and Indra, still intoxicated by the presence of Rambha, placed the flower on the head of his elephant. The elephant thus got all the qualities that were ordained by the flower. The elephant then fought and defeated all other elephants and left Indra. Thus destiny resulted in the elephant getting all the advantages associated with the blessings of the Parijata flower. If Indra had accepted the flower, he would have got all its qualities. But destiny, which was also a play of Vishnu, had other plans, and it waited for the birth of Ganesha.
Part 2: Shani visits Kailasa on the occasion of Ganesha's birth
The second part of this story is the occasion of the birth of Ganesha and the conversation between Parvati and Shani.
On the birth of Ganesha, all the other gods visited Kailasa to see him and bless him. Shani also came to Kailasa and requested Parvati to let him see Ganesha. She granted him permission, and Shani stood there, casting his gaze downwards. He did not look at the child and was satisfied with just standing near Ganesha.
Parvati enquired about the reason why he wasn't looking at Ganesha, and Shani replied with the following:
"O chaste lady, all the people have to face the results of their deeds. Whatever good or bad deeds are done, they cannot be washed away even after completion of crores of kalpas. The jiva is born as Brahma, Indra and Surya because of his deeds, and he is reborn as an animal because of his deeds."