Chaturthi Chandra Puja Mantra: Complete Chaurchan Puja Vidhi Guide

The Chaturthi Chandra Puja Mantra is chanted on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, the tradition prohibits looking at the Chaturthi Chandra : the fourth-night moon : because of a specific curse by Lord Ganesha. Those who see the moon on this day are said to receive a false accusation or face an undeserved scandal, just as Lord Krishna himself once faced false accusations despite being innocent. The remedy and protection is the Chaturthi Chandra Puja Mantra : the ritual of worshipping the Bhadrapada Chaturthi moon with the specific mantras, offerings and vrat katha that the tradition prescribes to remove this curse.

This puja is especially observed in the Mithila tradition of Bihar and the Madhesh region of Nepal, where it is called Chaurchan Puja (चौरचन पूजा or चौठचन्द्र पूजा). Married women, widows and unmarried women all observe this vrat, though the specific puja mantras and some aspects of the vidhi differ for married women (Sadhavas) and widows (Vidhwas).

The Mythology: Why Looking at the Moon on Chaturthi Is Forbidden

The story begins with Ganesha and the Syamantaka Mani : the divine gem of the Sun god.

One day, Ganesha was riding his vehicle : the small mouse : when the mouse stumbled over a snake at night, and Ganesha fell. The Chaturthi moon witnessed this undignified fall and laughed mockingly at Ganesha’s round belly and his unusual appearance. Ganesha was deeply hurt by this ridicule. In his anger, he cursed the moon: “Whoever sees you on this night : Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi : will face false accusations. They will be blamed for something they have not done, as I am now mocked for something that was not my fault.”

The curse’s power became evident when Lord Krishna himself : who had accidentally glanced at the moon on Bhadrapada Chaturthi : faced the accusation of having stolen the Syamantaka Mani from Prasena. The gem had actually been taken by a lion, which was killed by Jambavan, who then kept the gem in his cave. Despite being completely innocent, Lord Krishna was publicly accused of theft. He had to descend into Jambavan’s cave, battle Jambavan for 28 days, and finally receive the gem from him along with the hand of his daughter Jambavati in marriage.

The Chandra Darshan Mantra prescribed for this day : Simha Prasena Mavadhit Simho Jambavata Hatah, Sukumaraka Ma Rodis Tava Hyesha Syamantakah : is directly drawn from this story. Chanting it upon seeing the Chaturthi moon is the traditional antidote to the curse because it retells the truth of what actually happened to the gem, thereby declaring one’s own innocence in advance.

Chaurchan Puja Samagri: Complete Materials List

Arrange all of these items before beginning the evening puja:

Chaturthi Chandra Puja Vidhi: Complete Step-by-Step Method

When to begin: On the evening of Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi : after the first appearance of the evening. The vrati (one observing the vrat) should bathe before sunset and be ready with all samagri arranged before the puja begins.

Step 1: Pavitrikaran : Purification of Self and Offerings

Sit on the puja asana. Hold Kusha grass or a gold/silver ring (Pavitri) on the right hand. Take water in the palm. Sprinkle water on yourself and all the puja materials while chanting:

Step 2: Sankalpa : Taking the Sacred Resolve

Hold Kusha grass, sesame seeds and water in the right palm. State the Sankalpa mantra, inserting your gotra (lineage) and name at the appropriate places (Amuka = your name/gotra):

Step 3: Ganapati and Panch Devata Pujan

Take akshat (unbroken rice) and invoke the Panch Devatas (five presiding deities) on a betel leaf placed to one side:

Step 4: Gauri Puja (For Married Women) / Vishnu Puja (For Widows)

For married women (Sadhava) : Gauri Puja:

For widows (Vidhwa) : Vishnu Puja:
नमो भगवत् भगवान श्रीविष्णो इहागच्छ इह तिष्ठ।
Namo Bhagavat Bhagavan Shri Vishno Ihagachchha Iha Tishtha.
Then offer water, flowers, tulsi patra and panchopachar (five offerings) following the same pattern.

Step 5: Chaturthi Chandra Puja : The Main Worship of the Moon

This is the central act of the entire puja : the direct worship of Rohini Sahit (together with Rohini, the moon’s favourite consort) Bhadra Shukla Chaturthi Chandra.

Step 6: Detailed Offerings to Chandra Dev : Each With Its Mantra

• Chandana (sandalwood): मलयाद्रिसमुद्भूतं श्रीखंडं त्रिदशप्रियम्। सर्वपापहरं सौख्यं चंदनं मे प्रगृह्यताम्।। इदमनुलेपनं नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Akshat: इदमक्षतं नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• White flowers: त्रैलोक्यमोदकं पुष्पं शुक्लपुष्पं मनोहरम्। दिव्यौषधि क्षपानाथ गृह्यतां च प्रसीद मे।। एतानि पुष्पाणि नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Bilva patra: इदं विल्वपत्रं नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Durva grass: इदं दूर्वादलम् नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Yajnopavita (sacred thread): सुसंस्कृतं चतुर्वेदैर्द्विजानां भूषणं वरम्। यज्ञोपवीतं देवेश कृपया मे प्रगृह्यताम्।। इमे यज्ञोपविते बृहस्पतिदैवते नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• White cloth: तन्तुसंतानसम्भूतं कलाकौशलकल्पितम्। सर्वाङ्गभूषणश्रेष्ठं वसनं परिधीयताम्।। इदं वस्त्रं बृहस्पतिदैवतं नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Naivedya (food offering : kheer, puri, fruits): नैवेद्यं गृह्यतां देव भक्तिं मे ह्यचलां कुरु। ईप्सितं मे वरं देहि परत्र च परांगतिम्।। एतानि गंधपुष्पधूपदीप सदधिपक्वान्नादि नानाविध नैवेद्यानि नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Tambula (betel): पूगीफलं महद्दिव्यं नागवल्लीदलैर्युतम्। कर्पूरादिसमायुक्तं ताम्बूलं प्रतिगृह्यताम्।।
• Dhupa (incense): गन्धभारवहं दिव्यं नानावस्तुसमन्वितम्। सुरासुरनमानन्दं धूपं देव गृहाण मे।। एष धूप: नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Kalasha Dipa (lamp in copper pot): मार्तण्डमण्डलाखण्डचन्द्रबिम्बाग्निदीप्तिमान्। विधात्रा देवदीपोऽयं निर्मितस्तेऽस्तु भक्तितः।। एष कलशदीप: नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।
• Dugdharghya : milk offering (in conch shell with flowers and fruit): अत्रिनेत्रसमुद्भूत क्षीरोदार्णवसम्भव। गृहाणार्घ्यं मया दत्तं रोहिण्या सहितप्रभो।। इदं दुग्धार्घ्यं नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्राय नम:।

Step 7: Chandra Darshan : Seeing the Moon and Chanting the Key Mantra

Take the Dali (wicker basket) containing curd, fruits, kheer, puri and white flowers. Go outside and look at the Chaturthi Chandra (the fourth-night moon). Hold the Dali up toward the moon and chant:

Step 8: Pranam Mantras : Salutations to Chandra Dev

Step 9: Prarthana : Prayer to Chandra Dev

Step 10: Vrat Katha Shravana

After the puja, listen to or recite the Syamantaka Mani Katha : the story of how Lord Krishna was falsely accused of stealing the gem, how Jambavan possessed it, and how Lord Krishna cleared his name through truth and perseverance. This katha is the essential conclusion of the Chaturthi Chandra Puja. The puja is considered incomplete without hearing this story.

Step 11: Visarjan : Farewell to the Deities

After the katha, release each deity who was invoked with gratitude:

• Panch Devata: नमो गणपत्यादि पंचदेवता: पूजिता: स्थ क्षमध्वं स्वस्थानं गच्छत।
• Gauri (Sadhava): नमो गौरि पूजितासि प्रसीद क्षमस्व।
• Vishnu (Vidhwa): नमो विष्णो पूजितोऽसि प्रसीद क्षमस्व।
• Chandra Dev: नमो रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्र पूजितोऽसि प्रसीद क्षमस्व स्वस्थानं गच्छ।
  Namo Rohini Sahit Bhadra Shukla Chaturthi Chandra Pujito’si Prasida Kshamasva Swasthanam Gachchha.
  Meaning: O Bhadra Shukla Chaturthi Chandra, accompanied by Rohini : you have been worshipped. Be pleased, forgive any errors, and return to your divine abode.

Step 12: Dakshina and Prasad Distribution

Sprinkle water on the Dakshina (monetary offering) with sesame seeds and offer it to the officiating priest (or eldest male member of the family if no priest is present). The closing Dakshina mantra:

नमोऽस्यां रात्रौ कृते तद्रोहिणीसहित भाद्र शुक्ल चतुर्थी चंद्र पूजन तत्कथा श्रवण कर्म प्रतिष्ठार्थं मेतावद्द्रव्यमूल्यक हिरण्यमग्निदैवतं यथानामगोत्राय ब्राह्मणाय दक्षिणामहं ददे।

After the Dakshina, break the Marrod (the ritual mud pot that was set up at the beginning of the puja) and distribute Prasad : the kheer, puri, fruits and other naivedya : to all family members.

The Mithila Tradition: Specific Customs of Chaurchan Puja

In the Mithila tradition (Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhesh-Nepal), the Chaurchan Puja has specific local customs that go beyond the general Chaturthi Chandra Puja:

• The Aripan (Alpana): A traditional Mithila floor design : the Aripan : is drawn with rice paste on the puja surface before the puja begins. This Aripan has a specific pattern for the Chaurchan Puja.
• The Dali: A specific wicker basket (Dali) is prepared with curd, kheer, puri, Chandrota (a circular flat bread resembling the moon), fruits and flowers. The Dali is held up toward the moon during the Chandra Darshan and carried as a votive offering.
• Chandrota: This is a regional specialty : a circular flatbread specific to the Mithila Chaurchan Puja, representing the full moon. Making Chandrota is itself part of the day’s preparation.
• The family pandit: Where possible, a family priest (Kul-Pandit) officiates the puja and chants the mantras. Where no priest is available, the eldest knowledgeable male family member (father, husband, son or brother) can perform the puja.
• Post-puja Katha: The Syamantaka Mani Katha must be heard after the puja : either recited by the pandit or read from a Vrat Katha book. The vrat is incomplete without the katha.

From Our Practice

Frequently Asked Questions

Perform the Puja This Chaturthi

The Chaturthi Chandra Puja is one of the few Hindu rituals that directly addresses the experience of false accusation : one of the oldest and most painful human experiences. The mythology does not pretend the curse does not exist. It provides the remedy: truth spoken aloud, before the sky, in the form of the Syamantaka mantra.

Begin your preparation from the afternoon of Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. Make the Chandrota. Arrange the Dali. Draw the Aripan. As the evening comes, bathe, wear clean white or traditional attire, light the lamp and take the Sankalpa. Follow each step with its mantra. When the moon appears : hold up your Dali, face the sky, and chant: Simha Prasena Mavadhit Simho Jambavata Hatah. Sukumaraka Ma Rodis Tava Hyesha Syamantakah.

The moon was cursed for laughing at the wrong moment. The mantra tells the truth. Truth is always the complete protection.