Santoshi Mata Friday Vrat Katha

It is an account of ancient times, an old woman lived in a village. That old woman had seven sons. Out of her seven sons, six used to earn their livelihood excellently but the seventh son did not do any kind of work. Therefore, that old woman used to cook food for only her six sons and whatever remained after the meal of those six sons, she used to provide to her seventh son. But that son was very innocent, he never paid attention to this partiality of his mother.

One day the innocent son said to his wife - "How much my mother loves me." The wife said - "Of course! That's why she provides everyone's leftover scraps for you to consume as food." The son said - "Why do you doubt in vain, is such a thing even possible. Until I see it with my own eyes, I cannot believe it." His wife said - "No matter, when you see it yourself then you will believe it."

After a few days, an important festival came. Seven types of Churma and Laddus were prepared in the house. To find out the truth of the statement said by his wife, that son slept in the kitchen covering himself with a thin cloth and started watching everything quietly from inside the cloth. After some time his all six brothers appeared to have food. Mother spread beautiful seats for everyone and served seven types of dishes to them. Mother was making all those sons eat with love and insistence and the seventh son was watching while pretending to sleep. After all the sons had finished their meal, the mother made a laddu from the leftover pieces of laddus in all their plates and after cleaning the remaining leftovers, she called the seventh son - "Wake up son! All your brothers have consumed their food, now only you are left, wake up and eat food quickly."

Hurt by this act of his elderly mother, the son said - I don't want to eat food. I am going abroad. The old woman said in anger - "If you are going tomorrow, then go today itself." The son said - "Yes yes of course! I am departing this very moment." Saying this, that son left the house in anger. At the time of departure, he remembered his wife. She was making cow dung cakes in the cowshed. He reached near her and started saying -

"We are going abroad, will come after some time. You live with contentment, protecting your religion."

Hearing this, his wife said -

"Go dear with joy, removing my worry. We remain dependent on Ram, may God help you. Seeing your token, I will hold patience. Do not forget my memory, keep your mind serious."

Hearing the wife's words, the husband said - "I have nothing except this ring, consider it as my memento and also provide me some symbol of yours." The wife said - "I also have nothing, I am making cow dung cakes, so right now this is only cow dung." Saying this, the wife slapped her husband's back with her hand covered in cow dung.

Taking leave from his wife, he started his journey. Traveling, he arrived in a far country. There was a moneylender. He went and requested the moneylender to keep him on the job. The moneylender needed a servant for his shop, so he kept him on the job. When the young man asked the moneylender about the salary, he said - "Salary will be provided according to the work." The young man started serving the moneylender from morning till night.

In just a few days, that young man started doing all the work of the moneylender's transactions, account books, selling goods to customers etc. The moneylender had 7-8 servants, they were all amazed to see how that young man had acquired skill in all works with his cleverness. The moneylender was also very impressed with his work. That's why he made him a partner in half the business in just three months. That seventh son of the old woman who did not do any work, after 12 years, the same son became a very famous wealthy man i.e. a Seth. His master moneylender left after handing over his entire business to him.

After that young man went abroad, how his wife's life was spent, hear her agony - after the husband went abroad, the parents-in-law started torturing her. When that helpless woman would complete all the household work, then they started sending her to the forest to get wood. For food, that daughter-in-law was provided with roti of flour bran and water in a broken coconut shell. She continued to spend days in distress being helpless. One day she was going to the forest to get wood, on the way she saw many women observing Santoshi Mata's fast. Hearing the story she said - "Sisters! Which deity's fast are you doing? What merit is obtained by doing this? What is the procedure of this fast? If you will be kind enough to tell the procedure of this fast then I will be grateful to you."

One of those women said - "Sister! This is Santoshi Mata's fast, by doing this fast poverty and destitution are destroyed and Lakshmi arrives. Mental worries are resolved. Happiness, peace in the house and joy and delight to the mind are obtained. Sonless gets a son and unmarried girl gets a suitable groom. If the beloved is abroad then he returns soon. Disputes in the royal court are settled. Happiness and prosperity are obtained in all ways. Wealth is accumulated. Benefit of ancestral property is obtained. Freedom from all diseases is obtained and all wishes of the observer are fulfilled by the grace of Santoshi Mata, there is no doubt in this." After hearing the glory of the fast, the daughter-in-law asked - "How should this fast be done? Please describe its procedure, it will be your extreme kindness."

The woman, describing the procedure of the fast, said - "Take jaggery and gram of one and a quarter rupee, five and a quarter rupees or eleven and a quarter rupees according to your capacity. Take the material in whatever quantity is possible with ease, faith and love. While fasting every Friday, listen and narrate the story. The sequence of the fast should not break. One has to follow the rule continuously. If no one is found to listen to the story, then lighting a ghee lamp, keeping water in a vessel before it, recite the story but the rule should not be broken. Until the task is accomplished, follow the fast and conclude (Udyapan) the fast only when the task is completed. In three months, the Mother bestows the full result. If someone's planetary position is extremely opposite, then also by the Mother's grace, the task is definitely accomplished in one year. The Udyapan of this fast should be done only when the task is completed, not in the middle. In Udyapan, make Khaja of two and a half ser flour and the same amount of Kheer and gram greens. Feed eight boys. As far as possible, invite boys from the husband's brothers, brother's sons, family etc. If boys are not found, invite boys of relatives, neighbors, feed them, provide Dakshina as per capacity and complete the Mother's fast-rule. Do not let anyone consume sourness (Khatai) in the house on that day. In this way, the procedure of this fast is completed."

After knowing the procedure of the fast from that woman, the old woman's daughter-in-law started towards her house. On the way she sold that bundle of wood and with the earned money she bought jaggery and gram for the Mother's fast and started walking again. On the way she saw a temple of Santoshi Mata. She went into the temple and started rolling at the Mother's feet and praying to her being distressed - "Mother! I am an ignorant fool! I don't know any rules of the fast etc. I am extremely distressed. O Mother! Resolve my troubles. I am in your refuge." The Mother's heart melted with her devotee's pitiful cry.

Only one Friday had passed that on the second Friday the husband's letter came and on the third Friday she also received the money sent by her husband. Seeing all this, her elder sister-in-law (Jethani) said out of envy - "In so many days a little money came, what is so praiseworthy in this? Her sons started mocking - "Aunt has started receiving letters now, money has started coming. Now Aunt will be welcomed. Now Aunt will not come even on calling."

Hearing all this, that daughter-in-law would say - "Brother! If letters come, money comes then it is suitable for all of us only." Saying this, she came to Santoshi Mata's temple with tearful eyes and keeping her head at the Mother's feet, she started saying while crying - "Mother! I had not desired rupee-money, wealth etc. from you. What use is wealth to me, I need my husband's welfare. I only have the desire for my master's sight and service." Hearing her pitiful prayer, the Mother said - "Tathastu! Soon your master will arrive." Hearing this, the daughter-in-law came home happily and started doing household work.

There, Santoshi Maa was thinking in her mind that, "I have given this boon to that daughter that your husband will come soon, but he doesn't remember this even in his dream. It seems I will have to remind him about his virtuous wife myself." Deciding this, the Mother appeared in that old woman's son's dream and asked him - "Moneylender's son! Are you sleeping or awake." He said - "I am in the middle state. Tell me what is the command?" Maa said - "Do you have any household or not? He said - "Yes Mother! Parents, brother-sister, wife etc. everyone is in my family." Mother said - "O innocent son! Your virtuous wife is living a very painful life. Your parents are torturing her. She is constantly enduring various types of troubles for you. You should take care of her." He said - "Yes Maa! This I know, but how do I go? I am abroad, there is no account of transactions. No option to depart from here is found. How can I go leaving all this?"

Maa said - "Follow my command, waking up in the morning after bathing, remember Santoshi Mata's name, light a ghee lamp, prostrate before the Mother. In a short time, all your transactions will be settled. The accumulated goods will be sold. By evening the store of wealth will be full." In the morning when the old woman's innocent son told about his dream to everyone, everyone ignored his words and said mocking that, "Are such dreams ever true?" But an old man said to the young man - "Listen brother! Follow my advice, instead of being in such dilemma, what is your harm in doing as the divine power said in the dream?"

Following that old man's advice, the young man bathed early in the morning and prostrating before the Mother, lit a ghee lamp and sat at the shop. Only some time had passed that, debtors paid the money, creditors settled the account of their money and merchants started buying his stock by paying cash. By evening there was a pile of wealth. Being pleased with this play of the Mother, remembering the Mother in his heart, that young man started buying clothes, jewelry etc. to depart for home. Completing all work, he started the journey towards home.

There, his wife goes to the forest to get wood. While returning from there, she rests in the Mother's temple that falls on the way. She used to rest in the same temple every day. She had just come and sat in the temple that she saw dust flying from far away. Seeing the dust flying she asked the Mother - "O Mother! Why is so much dust flying?" Mother said - "O daughter! Your husband is returning home again from abroad. Now you listen, do as I say. Make three bundles of these woods, keep one on the river bank, the second in my temple and the third on your head. Your husband will feel greed on seeing the bundle of wood, he will stop there and take refreshments, thereafter will go to meet the Mother. Till then you reach home with the load of wood and putting the bundle in the middle of the courtyard, call out in a loud voice three times - 'Take Jethani, take the bundle of woods. Give roti of bran and give water in coconut shell. Which guest has come today?' Do exactly like this."

Hearing Santoshi Mata's words, the daughter-in-law said - "It is appropriate! I will do the same Maa." Saying this, she happily made three bundles of wood. She had just kept one bundle on the river bank and one in the Mother's temple that, a traveler arrived there. Seeing the dry wood, a desire to rest and take refreshments at the same place arose in his mind. He thought that making some food here itself, after consuming it, one should depart for the village. Using those same woods, preparing food etc., he took rest and refreshments and reached his village.

At the same time, the daughter-in-law comes with the bundle of wood on her head and putting it in the courtyard, calls out three times - "Take Jethani, take the bundle of wood, give roti of bran, give water in coconut shell. Which guest has come today? Hearing this, the mother-in-law comes out and repenting on her committed atrocities, says - "Daughter-in-law! Why do you say so? Your master has come. Come and sit here, consume sweet rice, eat food, wear clothes and jewelry." In the meantime, hearing her voice, her master comes out and seeing her ring, asks the mother being distressed - "Mother! Who is this?" Mother says - "Son! This is your wife. 12 years have passed since you went abroad from here. Since then she keeps wandering like an animal in the whole village in your separation. Doesn't do any household work. Comes four times and just eats food. Now seeing you present here, she is asking for roti of bran and water in coconut shell."

The son said in shame - "Mother! I have seen the behavior of both you and her. Now give me the key of another room, I will live in that only." Mother said - "Alright son! Your decision is appropriate indeed, take these keys. Saying this, she threw the bunch of keys before the son." The son picked it up and arranged all his belongings in another room located on the third floor.

Overnight their situation changed. Both husband and wife started living life with royal comforts like kings. After a few days, Friday came. The daughter-in-law said to her husband - "I have to perform the Udyapan of Santoshi Mata's fast." The husband happily gave her permission to do Udyapan. She started making arrangements for Udyapan with a cheerful heart. But her elder sister-in-law says to her children that - "When you go to the food invitation then ask for sourness, because of which her Udyapan will not be completed." The daughter-in-law invited the elder sister-in-law's children for food, the children ate Kheer to their heart's content, but as soon as they remembered the elder sister-in-law's words, they started saying - "We want sourness, give sourness. Kheer is not dear to us. Even seeing it causes aversion.

The daughter-in-law said - "Sourness will not be given to anyone. This is Santoshi Mata's Prasad." Hearing this, the children immediately stood up and said to the daughter-in-law give us Dakshina. The innocent daughter-in-law knew nothing about this. Therefore, she gave them money. The elder sister-in-law's children started eating tamarind by bringing it from that money of Dakshina. Because of this, Goddess Santoshi became angry with that daughter-in-law. At the same time, by divine providence, the king's messengers arrived there and took her husband prisoner. After this chain of events, the elder brother-in-law and elder sister-in-law, saying various types of harsh words to the daughter-in-law, started saying - "Your husband must have surely collected wealth by looting people, that's why the king's messengers caught him and took him. You will know everything when your husband remains prisoner in jail." The daughter-in-law's heart was deeply hurt by these bitter words of the elder brother-in-law and elder sister-in-law. She reached Santoshi Mata's temple crying and started saying - "O Mother! What kind of play are you doing with me? Why are you giving this trouble after providing me happiness Maa?

The Mother said - "Daughter! You have broken my fast by not doing Udyapan systematically. You forgot that case so soon?" The daughter-in-law said - "Mother! I remember everything, I am innocent! I was misled by the elder sister-in-law's children, that's why by mistake I gave them wealth as Dakshina and with that they consumed tamarind. Forgive me Maa! I will again complete your Udyapan with full procedure." Mother said - "Now don't make such an error again." The daughter-in-law said - "It will not happen Mother, but how will I get my husband again? Mother said - "Daughter! You depart from here, you will get your husband on the way itself."

The daughter-in-law started coming home with a joyful mind. In the middle of the way, she met her husband. The wife asked impatiently - "Where had you gone? My mind was getting so restless." He started saying - "I have earned excessive wealth, haven't I, that's why the king had asked for tax on it. Therefore, I had gone to provide tax." Knowing this, his wife was very delighted and both came home happily. After a few days, Friday came again. She said to her husband - "I have to do Udyapan of Santoshi Mata." Her husband said - "Do it indeed." She again reached to invite the elder brother-in-law's children for food. The elder sister-in-law said some harsh words to her and again told her children that, "Express the desire for sourness first in the meal." As soon as they took their seats in the invitation, the children started saying - "Kheer etc. is not dear to us, this distracts our mind. Provide us some dish containing sourness. The daughter-in-law said clearly - "Sourness will not be obtained, if you wish then consume food otherwise depart from here." Hearing this, the elder sister-in-law's boys left from there. Thereafter, the daughter-in-law feed the Brahmin boys with devotion. Instead of money in Dakshina, she provided them one fruit each as per her capacity. On completing Udyapan in this way, Santoshi Mata became pleased. By the Mother's blessing and grace, in the ninth month, she obtained a beautiful son like the moon. She started going to Santoshi Mata's temple every day taking her son.

One day the Mother thought - "She comes to my temple every day, today I go to her house. I also find out how her shelter is?" Deciding this, the Mother assumed an extremely terrifying form. Jaggery and gram were stuck on her face, her lips were like a trunk. Various types of insects etc. were wandering near her. As soon as the Mother appeared at the daughter-in-law's door in this terrifying form, her mother-in-law being frightened started calling out - "See-see! It seems some Dakini or witch etc. is coming this way. Sons! Drive her away, otherwise she will consume one of us." Her sons, being frightened, closed the windows etc. of their room. The younger daughter-in-law, hearing the mother-in-law's call, as soon as she saw from the window, she started shouting joyfully - "Today my merits have awakened, my Santoshi Mata herself has visited my house. Saying this, she just removes her milk-drinking infant from her lap that her mother-in-law, being angry, says - "Unfortunate one! Slut! How excited are you seeing her that you threw your infant from your lap."

At that very moment, the Mother performed her play and the mother-in-law started seeing children only in the whole house. The younger daughter-in-law said - "Mother-in-law! This is my same compassionate Santoshi Mata, whose fast I observe every Friday." Saying this, the daughter-in-law opens all the doors of the house. All the family members, prostrating at the Mother's feet, asking for forgiveness for their offenses, say - "O Mother! Please forgive us, we have committed a grave sin by breaking your fast, we are fools-ignorant, we don't know the procedure of your fast, give us forgiveness Mother. We promise that, in future we will never do so again, have mercy Mother, have mercy on us." The Mother became pleased with the repentance and pitiful prayer of all of them and forgave all of them. Thereafter, all those family members started observing the Friday fast regularly. By the effect of the fast, all their troubles were resolved and they started spending life happily.

॥ Thus ends the Shri Santoshi Mata Friday Vrat Katha ॥