Shukra Planet Friday Vrat Katha

It is a matter of ancient times, in some village an old woman resided with her son and daughter-in-law. A very beautiful idol of Lord Shukra was seated in the old woman's temple. That old woman daily used to bathe the idol of Lord Shukra and perform ritual worship systematically. Besides this, she used to observe the Friday fast every Friday. By the grace of Shukradev, her house was full of wealth and grain. Her son used to earn his livelihood in some other city and used to come home every month to meet the family. Under the protection of Shukradev, the entire family was spending life happily.

Once the old woman decided to go on a pilgrimage and she said to her daughter-in-law - "Daughter-in-law! I am going on a pilgrimage to visit various holy places. Until my return from the journey, you daily bathe Shukradev and perform his ritual worship and only after offering him bhog etc. consume food yourself." The daughter-in-law said - "As your command mother-in-law! I will definitely perform Shukradev's worship systematically. You be rest assured and complete your pilgrimage." In this way, handing over the responsibility of worship etc. to the daughter-in-law, the old woman departed for the pilgrimage.

The next day when the daughter-in-law was bathing Shukradev, the idol began to laugh seeing the daughter-in-law. Seeing the idol laughing, the daughter-in-law became frightened. At the same time, a woman water-carrier (paniharin) arrived there. The daughter-in-law said to her - "This idol is laughing seeing me, can you take it to your house?" The water-carrier said - "Sister! I also have daughter-in-law and daughter in my house, I cannot take such an idol to my house. But I have a suggestion, you give me this idol and I will dig a pit and bury it underground. Thereafter you will have no problem with it." Accepting her suggestion, the daughter-in-law provided her the idol of Shukradev. The water-carrier buried that idol underground in a pit right outside the old woman's house.

Lord Shukra became extremely angry at this act of the daughter-in-law. As soon as Shukradev became angry, the sequence of destruction started in that house. The livelihood of the old woman's son stopped. He was not getting any work. The daughter-in-law became afflicted with various types of diseases. All types of enjoyments were destroyed from their lives. Due to lack of money, even a crisis for food arose. At the same time, the old woman returned home after completing the pilgrimage. Due to night time and fatigue of the journey, the old woman went to sleep as soon as she arrived.

In a dream, Lord Shukra gave darshan to the old woman and said that - "O Mother! Your daughter-in-law has insulted me. She broke the rule of my worship and also expelled my idol from the house. Therefore, because of my wrath, now they are suffering from grave poverty. You take out my idol from there and perform systematic worship and fast with the family. Only after this will you get freedom from this poverty and trouble."

Waking up in the morning, the old woman first of all went to the temple in the house and saw that Shukradev's idol is not there. The old woman asked the daughter-in-law about it then she said that - "I gave that idol to the water-carrier." On being asked from the water-carrier, she said that - "I have buried that idol in a pit right outside your house on your daughter-in-law's word." Hearing this, the old woman was extremely distressed and ran and reached her house. Reaching home, immediately the old woman took out Shukradev's idol from the pit and got it bathed etc. and with full devotion performed systematic worship and fast of Lord Shukra.

By the grace of Lord Shukra, again the increase of wealth and grain started in their house. The old woman, her daughter-in-law and son all started daily performing Shukradev's worship and Friday fast regularly. Their life became full of all types of comforts and joy. Just as Lord Shukra made that old woman's life happy, in the same way, all kinds of happiness arrive in the life of the person who reads and listens to this Friday story.

॥ Thus ends the Shri Shukra Friday Vrat Katha ॥