Somvar Vrat Katha

Part 1: The Childless Moneylender

A long time ago a rich moneylender lived in a city. He lacked nothing in wealth, but he had no children. Because of this he and his wife were very sad. The moneylender kept the vrat of Lord Shiva every Monday and in the evening worshipped at the Shiva temple, lighting a lamp. His wife too kept this vrat with him with faith.

Part 2: Shiva Ji's Boon

One day Mother Parvati said to Shiva Ji, "Lord, this moneylender keeps your vrat every day, yet he has not been given a child. Please grant his wish." Shiva Ji said, "Parvati, everyone in the world receives the fruit of their own deeds. The joy of children is not in his fate." But when Parvati Ji insisted, Shiva Ji said, "Very well, I grant him the boon of a son. But that son will live only twelve years."

That night the moneylender heard all this in a dream. He felt neither grief nor great joy, for his mind was steady in devotion. After some time a handsome son was born in his house. There was a celebration in the house, but the moneylender stayed silent and told no one about the boy's lifespan.

Part 3: The Journey to Kashi

When the son turned eleven, the moneylender's wife said, "Now he should be married." The moneylender said, "I will send him to Kashi to study." He called the boy's maternal uncle, gave him a good deal of money and said, "Take him to Kashi to study. Wherever you halt on the way, perform a yajna, feed Brahmins and give charity."

The uncle and nephew set out. Wherever they halted on the way, they performed a yajna and gave food and charity to Brahmins. Travelling on, they reached a city where the king's daughter was being married that very day. But the bridegroom was blind in one eye. His father feared that the princess would see this and refuse the marriage. When they saw the moneylender's handsome son, they thought of making him the bridegroom for a little while so that the marriage rites could be completed.

Part 4: The Princess's Wedding

They said to the uncle, "Let this boy be the bridegroom, and we will give you a lot of money in return." The uncle gave in to greed and the boy agreed. The wedding rites were completed. At the time of farewell, the boy wrote on the edge of the princess's chunri, "You have been married to me, but the one you will be sent off with is blind in one eye. I am going to Kashi to study." When the princess read this, she refused to go with the one-eyed prince, and the wedding party went back.

Part 5: The Age of Twelve and Shiva's Grace

Meanwhile the uncle and nephew reached Kashi. The boy began his studies there. When he turned twelve, one day he performed a yajna and fed Brahmins. That same night his health failed and his life breath left him. Seeing him, the uncle wept bitterly.

At that very time Shiva and Parvati were passing by through the sky. Parvati Ji heard the weeping and asked Shiva Ji, "Who is weeping?" Shiva Ji looked and said, "This is the son of that same moneylender to whom I gave twelve years of life." Parvati said, "Lord, his parents have shown you great devotion. Give him back his life, or else his father too will not live."

Shiva Ji said, "By the power of his father's devotion and vrat, I grant him more life." The boy came back to life. The uncle and nephew bowed to Shiva, finished the studies and set off for home.

Part 6: The Return Home

On their way back they reached the same city where the boy had been married. The king recognised him and sent him off with his daughter with great pomp. Meanwhile the moneylender and his wife had resolved that if their son did not return, the two of them would give up their lives. Just then the news of the son's return came. They ran out and were overjoyed to see their son with his bride.

That night Shiva Ji said to the moneylender in a dream, "Pleased with your devotion, I have granted your son a long life." Whoever keeps the Monday vrat and listens to this katha has all his wishes fulfilled.

The Belief of the Sixteen Mondays

In some homes another katha is also told, in which Mother Parvati kept the sixteen-Monday vrat and pleased Kartikeya, and through Kartikeya's influence the mind of her estranged Brahmin friend was changed. In this katha the belief is told that the sixteen-Monday vrat brings a desired life partner.

Thus ends the complete Somvar Vrat Katha