Ananta Chaturdashi
ananta chaturdashi sanskrit अनंतचतुर्दशी romanized anantacaturdaśī festival dedicated vishnu observed celebrated hindu marked fourteenth day moon waxing phase hindu month bhadrapada according agni purana ananta shesha divine serpent manifestation vishnu venerated occasion free adherent sin ananta chaturdashi also marked last day tendaylong ganesh chaturthi festival also called ganesh chaudas devotee bid adieu deity ganesha immersing visarjana idol water legend behind ananta chaturdashi found mahabharata recount story woman named sushila encountered group woman worshipping ananta near riverbank explained performance vrata pious observance would earn great merit performer offer safety form ananta made darbha sacred grass placed basket whereby offered worship scented flower oil lamp incense stick food prepared sushila joined woman undertaking ritual whereupon knottedsacramental thread tied wrist returned join husband sage called kaundinya couple reached town called amaravati whose resident welcomed piety offered spacious house kaundinya began prosper became rich one day kaundinya noticed thread sushilas wrist heard reason behind wealth observance vrata displeased maintained wealth ananta effort saying hence kaundinya took thread sushilas hand threw fire despite plea following misfortune fell upon reduced extreme poverty neighbour turned away house caught fire repentant kaundinya understood punishment dishonoured ananta roamed place place asking number creature lake could tell could find deity coming across number unusual sight finally ananta assumed guise old brahmin man appeared following kaundinya pleaded forgiveness explaining significance unusual sight kaundinya observed wandering ananta forgave kaundinya asked observe ananta chaturdashi vow fourteen year promising prosperity eternal abode star demise thus kaundinya sushila observed vow led happy life thereafter important day jain calendar festivity jains observe parv paryushana last day bhado month digambar jains observe ten day dus lakshan parv chaturdashi also known ananta chaudas last day daslakshan parv kshamavani day jains ask forgiveness mistake made intentionally otherwise observed one day ananta chaturdashi day vasupujya th tirthankara present cosmic cycle attained nirvana part nepal bihar eastern uttar pradesh festival closely linked kshira sagara ocean milk vishnu anantarupa form ananta fourteen tilakas small vertical strip kumkuma sindoor vermilion powder made wooden plank fourteen puris fried wheat bread puas deep fried sweet wheat bread placed vermilion strip bowl containing panchamrita made milk curd jaggery sugar honey ghee symbolizing ocean milk placed wooden plank thread knot symbolizing anantarupa vishnu wrapped cucumber swirled five time panchamrita later ananta thread tied right arm elbow men woman tie left arm ananta thread removed day addition special ritual devotee perform fast upavasa day ganesh chaturthi cultural depiction elephant durga puja mantrapushpanjali