Anant Chaturdashi 2022: All You Need To Know

Anant Chaturdashi is a festival observed and celebrated by Jains and Hindus. This festival is popularly known as Anant Chaudas. It falls on the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad soon after 10 days of Ganesh Chaturthi. This is the day when Lord Vasupujya, 12th Tirthankara of the present cosmic cycle, attained Nirvana. On the day of Anant Chaturdashi, women keep fast for the well being of their family while men observe fast to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu for the fourteen coming years. This festival holds great importance especially among the Jain community of Hindu Religion.

Anant Chaturdashi is the most notable day for worshipping Lord Vishnu in his Anant avatar. On this day, devotees of Lord Vishnu observe a fast for the whole day and also perform various pujas and tie sacred threads on their wrists. It is also the last day of the Hindu festival of Ganeshotsav. On this day, people go to different water bodies with their idols, dancing and singing in large processions. This festival is celebrated all over India especially in the states of Maharastra, Gujrat, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh, and Bihar.

Anant Chaturdashi 2022: Timings and Date

Day: Friday

Date– 9 September

Anant Chaturdashi Puja Muhurat: 06:03 AM to 06:07 PM

Significance of Anant Chaturdashi

Lord Vishnu is also popular with its other name Anant which signifies Eternal and the word Chaturdashi means fourteen. This is completely dedicated to Lord Vishu and people try to gain his blessings by performing different Pujas and rituals on this auspicious day. The devotees observe a strict fast and tie a thread on their wrists colored with Kumkum and Tumeric having fourteen knots known as “Ananta Sutra”

In Jainism, this festival holds a very important significance and is the second most important festival after Diwali. Digambar Jains who hold the highest place among the Jain community observe the Paryushana Parva in the last 8 days of Bhado month. However, on the last day of Paryushan, Anant Chaturthi is celebrated. This day also marks the end of long 14 days of fast and is welcomed with different Pujas and rituals.

On this particular day, the 12th Tirthankara of Jains named Lord Vasupujya had also attained Nirvana. Thus, the sacred day of Anant Chaturdashi is much important for Jain people.

Anant Chaturthi has two main significance:

It marks the end of the Ganpati festival also known as Ganapati Visarjan. People take the Murti’s of Ganpati to lakes or sea in great processions to be immersed in the waters.

On this day, people usually recite and listen to the stories of Lord Vishnu, also known as Anant. The recitation of Vedas is also called as “Anant Vrat”

History of Anant Chaturdashi

According to Hindu mythology, the history of Anant Chaturdashi dates back to Mahabarata days. It all started when Kauravas defeated Pandavas in a game of gambling with the act of deceiving them. According to the rules, the Pandavas have to sacrifice all their wealth, property, luxurious and go for a longer period of exile away from the country. During this time, Pandavas faced a lot of difficulties and went through a very harsh period of pain and struggle.

One day, Lord Krishna went to meet the Pandavas in the forest with a view of solving their problems up to a certain limit. The Pandavas welcomed Lord Krishna with proper respect and dignity. After that, the eldest Pandava Yudhishthira asks Lord Krisha to suggest some trick by which he can get his lost kingdom back and can return to his land.

Upon hearing this, Lord Krishna suggests him a remedy and promised him that he will get his Kingdom back if he properly follows this remedy. The remedy was the fast of Anant Chaturdashi in which Yudhishthira along with his wife and brothers had to fast for consecutive 14 days and pay homage to Lord Vishnu.

After hearing this, Yudhishthira asked Krishna who is Anant? Lord Krishna then explained to him that Anant is another Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Moreover, Krishna also told him that worshipping him for the consecutive 14 days without eating or drinking anything will solve your all problems and you will surely get your lost respect and Kingdom back.

Yudhishthira successfully observed the fast along with his family for 14 days and finally got his Kingdom back. From that day, Anant Chaturdashi is celebrated as the holy festival on which worship Lord Vishu and keep fast for 14 days.

Anant Chaturdashi Puja

As this day is completely devoted to the worship of Lord Vishnu, people perform different customs and rituals associated with the festival. The worship is usually done during the day time. The main Vidhi’s which people perform on this day are:

In the morning people usually take a bath and then place a Kalash on the Pujan altar.

14 Puas (sweet wheat bread which is deep-fried) and fourteen Puris (wheat bread which is deep-fried) are made on different tilaks.

The devotees then place Panchamrit which symbolizes ‘Ocean Of Milk’ (Kushinagar) on the plank.

Preparation of thread by dipping it in vermilion, saffron, and turmeric. The thread must contain 14 knots and then keep this thread in front of the idol of Lord Vishnu.