Brihaspati Planet Thursday Vrat Katha

A moneylender lived in a village. That moneylender was very wealthy and there was no shortage of food, clothes, etc. in his house. But his wife, the Sethani, was extremely parsimonious, that is, miserly. She never performed any charity or religious acts and used to drive away beggars without giving them anything.

Once upon a time, on Thursday, an old sage came to that Sethani's door to ask for alms. That sage called out loudly "Bhiksham Dehi". At that time, that Sethani was plastering the courtyard of the house. Therefore, she said to the sage - "Maharaj! At this time I am plastering the house. I cannot give you any alms right now, you come again sometime when I am free." Hearing Sethani's words, the sage returned disappointed with an empty bag without receiving any charity.

After a few days, the same sage again appeared at that Sethani's door and started begging for alms. At that time, the Sethani was feeding the child. Therefore, she said - "Maharaj! What should I do? I don't have time, so I cannot give you alms." This time also, the sage returned empty-handed from her door without receiving alms.

For the third time, the sage again appeared at that Sethani's door to beg. But like before, this time also Sethani tried to avoid the sage by making some excuse. But hearing Sethani's excuse this time, the sage said - "You always say that you don't have time to give alms, if you have plenty of time or if you are completely free, then will you give me alms?"

The moneylender's wife said - "Certainly Maharaj! If that happens, it will be your great kindness." On this, the sage said - "Fair enough! I am describing a secret remedy before you, listen carefully - You wake up from bed after sunrise on Thursday and sweep the house and collect the garbage in one corner of the house itself. Do not apply Chowk, etc. in the house. Thereafter, after performing bathing rituals, tell the men of the house to definitely perform shaving (Kshaurakarma) on that day. Prepare food and keep it behind the stove. In the evening, light the lamp after it gets dark, do not wear yellow clothes on Thursday and do not consume yellow colored food items. If you do the above tasks, you will not have to do any work and you will always be free."

The moneylender's wife did all the tasks as per the sage's words. She started sleeping until late on Thursday, started collecting garbage in the corner of the house after sweeping. On her instruction, the men of the house performed shaving on Thursday. Sethani started keeping food behind the stove. She started doing all these tasks every Thursday. By performing these acts, the Sethani's merits were soon exhausted and all her wealth and glory were destroyed. Not even a grain of food was left in her house.

After a few days, the same sage returned again and called for alms at Sethani's door. This time, the Sethani said while being moved - "Maharaj! Not a single grain of food is left in my house. What charity can I give you? I myself have become a beggar." Hearing that woman's pathetic story, the sage said - "At the time when your granaries were full, your family was prosperous with wealth and food, then you did not give any charity due to lack of time, now you are completely free, even after this you are not doing any charity or religious acts, ultimately what is your wish?"

Realizing her mistake from the sage's sarcastic words, the Sethani said - "Maharaj! Please be kind enough to tell some such remedy so that my house becomes prosperous with wealth and food like before. I swear that I will do as you say."

Being kind on Sethani's request, the sage said - "Wake up early in the morning on Thursday, after getting free from daily rituals like bathing, plaster the house with cow dung. Tell the men of the house not to perform shaving on Thursday. Donate food and water, etc. to the hungry. Light a lamp exactly at the time of dusk. If you do the above tasks regularly, all your wishes will definitely be fulfilled by the grace of Lord Brihaspati."

According to the sage's instructions, Sethani started doing all the tasks faithfully. By following those rules, her house became full of wealth and food like before. By the grace of Lord Brihaspati, after enjoying various kinds of happiness for a long time, she attained salvation. Similarly, whoever observes the Thursday fast and puja and listens to the Brihaspativara Vrat Katha, all his wishes are fulfilled by the grace of Brihaspati Dev.

॥ Thus ends the Shri Brihaspativara Vrat Katha ॥