Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha

Part 1: The Mother of Seven Sons and the Youngest Son

This happened long ago. In a village lived an old mother. She had seven sons. Six sons earned, and the youngest was thought to be useless. Whatever was cooked in the house, the mother first fed the six sons, and whatever was left she served to the youngest. The youngest son was simple and silently put up with everything his mother did.

One day the youngest son said to his wife, "See how little love Mother has for me." His wife said, "All will be well, do not worry." But the son was hurt at heart. He said, "I want to go abroad and earn something." His wife gave him permission to go and said, "Go, but leave me a keepsake." He gave his ring to his wife and left for a distant land.

Part 2: The Daughter-in-law's Suffering

After her husband left, the mother-in-law and the sisters-in-law began to treat the daughter-in-law very harshly. She had to do all the housework through the day, bring wood from the forest, and got only dry roti to eat, and water even in a coconut shell. The daughter-in-law was sad, but she never said a bad word about anyone.

Part 3: Introduction to the Santoshi Mata Vrat

One day, while bringing wood from the forest, she saw some women at worship. They were praying to some goddess. The daughter-in-law went near and asked, "Sisters, whose vrat are you keeping? What fruit does it give?" The women told her, "Sister, this is the vrat of Santoshi Mata. In it the Mother is worshipped for sixteen Fridays, jaggery and chana are offered as bhog, and nothing sour is eaten. By this sorrows go away and the wishes of the heart are fulfilled."

From that very day the daughter-in-law resolved to keep the Santoshi Mata vrat with devotion. With the money she got from selling wood she bought jaggery and chana, remembered the Mother on the way and made the offering. She prayed to the Mother, "Mother, my husband has gone abroad and I have no news of him. Please call him back."

Part 4: The Husband's Return

The Mother heard her sincere prayer. Within a few Fridays a letter came from her husband, then money was sent, and finally the husband himself returned home. The daughter-in-law's joy knew no bounds. She said to the Mother, "Mother, now let me do my udyapan."

Part 5: A Mistake in the Udyapan and Forgiveness

On the sixteenth Friday she made preparations for the udyapan. She invited eight neighbourhood children for the meal. Out of jealousy, the sisters-in-law taught their own children, "Go there and ask for something sour after eating." After the meal the children asked for something sour. The daughter-in-law said, "Children, today is Santoshi Mata's day; we do not eat sour things on this day, I will give you money instead." With that money the children bought tamarind and ate it. At this the Mother became displeased, and suddenly the king's soldiers took the daughter-in-law's husband away.

The daughter-in-law was alarmed and went weeping before the Mother. She asked forgiveness and resolved to perform the udyapan again. This time she took care that nothing sour came in, and once more she performed the udyapan in the proper way. The Mother was pleased and her husband returned safe. After some time the daughter-in-law was blessed with a beautiful child.

Part 6: The Attainment of Happiness

One day the Mother said to the daughter-in-law, "Daughter, your mother-in-law and sisters-in-law gave you great pain, but you never wished anyone ill. I am pleased with your true devotion." After this the mother-in-law's heart also changed. She asked her daughter-in-law's forgiveness and the whole family began to live happily.

In this way, by the power of the Santoshi Mata vrat, all the daughter-in-law's sorrows went away, her husband came back, she received the joy of a child, and there was peace in the home. Any woman or man who keeps this vrat with faith and follows the rules has their wish fulfilled. Say it aloud: Jai Santoshi Mata!

Thus ends the complete Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha