Mangalvar Vrat Katha

Part 1: Keshavdatt and the Longing for a Child

In ancient times, in a city lived a Brahmin named Keshavdatt with his wife. They lacked nothing in wealth, but they had no children. Because of this both were sad. Every Tuesday the Brahmin went to the temple of Hanuman Ji, worshipped, and prayed for a child. His wife too kept the Tuesday vrat.

Part 2: The Brahmin Woman's Fast Without Food

One Tuesday the Brahmin woman kept the vrat and prepared an offering for Hanuman Ji. But for some reason she could not make the offering and remained hungry herself. She vowed that until she had offered bhog to Hanuman Ji she would not take food or water. She stayed without food until the next Tuesday came. On the sixth day, from hunger and weakness, she fell down unconscious.

Seeing her devotion, Hanuman Ji was pleased. He came to her house in the form of a sage and said, "Daughter, I am pleased with your devotion. Ask, what do you want?" With folded hands the Brahmin woman said, "Lord, I want a child. My lap is empty." Hanuman Ji blessed her, "A radiant son will be born in your house, who will bring glory to the whole family. Name him Mangal." Having said this, he vanished.

Part 3: The Birth of the Son Mangal

After some time the Brahmin woman gave birth to a beautiful son. The Brahmin named him Mangal. The boy was handsome and intelligent. Both of them loved him dearly.

One day the Brahmin asked his wife, "How did all this happen?" The Brahmin woman told him everything. The Brahmin said, "We will never give up Hanuman Ji's vrat." But some time later the Brahmin had to go out of town on some work. In his absence the Brahmin woman gave up keeping the vrat on Tuesdays and became busy with household work.

Part 4: The Lapse in the Vrat and Its Correction

The son Mangal was hurt several times and troubles began to come upon the house. One day a friend of the Brahmin came and said, "You have even forgotten your son's name, Mangal. There has been a lapse in Hanuman Ji's vrat, and that is why this suffering has come." The Brahmin woman realised her mistake. She began to keep the Tuesday vrat again with faith and asked Hanuman Ji's forgiveness.

Hanuman Ji was pleased. By his blessing all the obstacles of the son Mangal were removed. When he grew up, his fame spread through the whole city. The Brahmin couple kept the Tuesday vrat all their lives and in the end, by the grace of Hanuman Ji, lived happily and went to the supreme abode.

Part 5: The Lesson of the Katha

The lesson from this katha is that Hanuman Ji removes the troubles of the devotee who keeps the Tuesday vrat with discipline and faith.

Thus ends the complete Mangalvar Vrat Katha