Brihaspati Pradosha Vrat Katha

Describing the story of Brihaspati Trayodashi Pradosha fast before eighty-eight thousand sages like Shaunaka, Sutaji says - "At one time a fierce war took place between Devraj Indra and a demon named Vritra. At that time, the deities defeated the army of the demons with their valor. Seeing his soldiers dead in large numbers, Vritrasura became angry and he himself prepared for war. He took an extremely giant and fearsome form by the power of his demonic illusion and challenged the deities for war.

Seeing the fearsome form of Vritrasura in the battlefield, all the deities including Indra became terrified and they called Devguru Brihaspati for help. Hearing the prayer of the deities, Devguru appeared there and asked the deities the reason for their concern.

The deities including Indra said - 'O Gurudev! A fearsome demon named Vritra has attacked the heaven, he is very powerful, please help us and show us the way to remove this crisis.'

Devguru Brihaspati said - 'O Devendra! This Vritrasura is very illusory, I tell you his story, listen carefully - Vritrasura was very ascetic and dedicated, he had pleased Lord Shiva by performing severe penance on Gandhamadana mountain. In his previous birth, that demon was a king named Chitraratha. His empire was in a beautiful forest located near your state. Many sages, saints, mahatmas etc. used to perform penance and meditation in that forest. That place is considered very favorable for attaining God.

At one time Chitraratha reached Kailash mountain while wandering. On Kailash mountain, Lord Shiva was addressing a meeting while sitting with his better half Goddess Parvati. Chitraratha, seeing his form and Goddess Parvati sitting near him, said to Lord Shiva while mocking with folded hands - 'O Lord! We are ordinary beings, that's why being subject to illusion, we remain trapped in the infatuation of women, but in heaven nowhere have I seen anyone sitting in a meeting with a woman.'

Hearing these sarcastic words from the mouth of Chitraratha, Lord Shiva said while laughing - 'O King! My practical approach is different from all others. I have consumed Kalakuta, the great poison that destroys the creation. Even after this, you are mocking me like those with little knowledge.'

Goddess Parvati also became very angry with Chitraratha and looking towards him, the Mother said - 'O wicked creature! You have mocked my husband and Mahadeva who is pervasive in the entire universe in front of me, so you will definitely have to suffer the punishment for this sinful act of yours. All the wise people present in this meeting are knowers of the essence of all scriptures. Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara present here are absorbed in Shiva devotion after all types of ignorance are destroyed. O fool! You consider yourself very clever, so you must get this lesson so that you can never dare to mock the assembly of saints and scholars again in the future. I curse you that immediately you will fall from this aircraft of yours to the earth and you will be born in the demon species.'

Immediately after receiving the curse by Devi Jagadamba, Chitraratha fell from his aircraft to the earth and attained the demon species and became notorious by the name Mahasura. An ascetic sage named Tvashta manifested that demon in the form of Vrittasura by his penance power.'

Brihaspati ji further says - 'Vrittasura started worshipping Lord Shiva while following celibacy. As a result of Shiva devotion, he has attained immense strength and valor. Therefore, being a Shiva devotee, you cannot defeat him. My only suggestion is that if you want to win over that very powerful demon, then faithfully follow the Brihaspati Pradosha fast.'"

Sutaji says - "According to the advice of Devguru Brihaspati, the deities followed the Guru Pradosha fast with complete rituals as a result of which Vrittasura was defeated and the fierce crisis that came upon the heaven was removed. In this way, whoever faithfully follows this extremely virtuous fast, all his troubles are quenched and his desired wishes are fulfilled."

॥Iti Shri Brihaspati Pradosha Vrat Katha Sampurnah॥