Gauri Vrat, which is also referred to as  Jaya Parvati Vrat, is a fast that is observed by the women of Gujarat. Gauri Vrat is also observed in the western parts of India other than Gujarat. The Vrat can be observed by both the married women and unmarried ones.

Gauri Vrat is generally observed for a period of five days, and some women even observe this fast for as long as five to eleven years. Women who observe the Jaya Parvati Vrat, or the Gauri Vrat, have to adhere to certain strict rituals.

The vrat begins from July 22 this year.

Women cannot consume vegetables, salt or tomatoes. According to the beliefs, Jaya Parvati bestows happiness and prosperity to the women observing the fast and blesses them with not only a good husband but also a very happy married life.

Gauri Vrat, or the Gauri Puja, is dedicated to Goddess Gauri and is observed during the Ashada month, in accordance with the Gujarati calendar. The Gouri Vrat commences on the Ashada Ekadashi or Dev Shayani Ekadashi and ends on Guru Purnima or Ashad Purnima.

Gauri Vrat, or the Gauri Puja, is dedicated to Goddess Gauri and is observed during the Ashada month, in accordance with the Gujarati calendar. The Gouri Vrat commences on the Ashada Ekadashi or Dev Shayani Ekadashi and ends on Guru Purnima or Ashad Purnima.

These five days are referred to as Panchuka or the Gauri Panchak by the Gujarati women. This Vrat is mostly observed by the unmarried girls, so that they get a perfect husband.

Legend of Gauri Vrat

According to the legends, the Jaya Parvati Vrat is considered to be one of the most auspicious Vrats observed by the women. The legend says that a Brahmin couple was a great devotee of Shiva. They were happy and prosperous and had almost everything that they ever wanted.

The only prized possession that they did not have is a child. They wanted a child desperately, and they worshipped Lord Shiva in His temple. Lord Shiva was greatly touched by the devotion of this Brahmin couple. The couple decided to go and worship the Linga. They found the place that was left abandoned for ages. Once they found the Linga, the Brahmin went to look for flowers to offer to the Linga, while the women stayed back.

Unfortunately, a snake attacked the Brahmin, and he became unconscious instantly. The woman started becoming anxious when she realized that her husband had long gone and did not return yet. She set out looking for him and kept praying intensely for the safety of her husband.

Lord Shiva was moved by the love of the woman for her husband and her devotion towards Him. He brought the consciousness of the husband back. After this, the couple went back to the spot where the Linga was, prayed, and were finally blessed with a beautiful and healthy baby boy.

This is the legend behind the great Jaya Parvati Vrat or the Gauri Vrat. Unmarried women observing the fast cannot eat food that has salt in it. Wheat products and vegetables should also not be consumed during the Vrat.

More about Gauri Vrat

On the very first day, the women plant Javara or wheat seeds and place it in their temple. This is worshipped, and a necklace of cotton wool is also made. After this, the women decorate this with a number of Vermillion spots on the pot. Until the fifth day of the Vrat, the women follow the same rituals, and they continue watering the wheat seeds. The final puja is conducted in the Mataji Temple to break the Vrat.

This is when the women can take food with salt and wheat products can be eaten. The women plant the Javara in their garden, after they take a bath on the sixth day.

Rituals and celebrations

Jaya Parvati Vrat is observed in dedication to Goddess Jaya. The devotees who observe this fast should strictly abstain from eating food with salt in it for 5 days. Consumption of wheat and some vegetables is also not permitted during this period.

On the first day of this fast, Javara or wheat seeds are planted in a small earthen pot and is placed at the place of worship in one’s home. Then, the devotees perform puja of this pot for 5 days continuously. The pot containing wheat seeds is watered everyday at the time of Puja. Vermillion is put on a necklace-like strand made of cotton wool which is known as Nagla. This strand is then kept around the edges of the pot.

On the last day of the fast, women who observe Jaya Parvati Vrat observe Jaya Parvati Jagran. On the night of this day, they stay awake all night long singing hymns and bhajans and chanting Aartis. This night vigil is done till the next day which is celebrated as Gauri Tritiya when this 5-day long fast is broken.

On the very next day of Jagran, the wheat grass in the pot is taken out and put in a holy river or any other water body. Puja is performed and other important religious rituals are observed, after which, women break the fast by eating a wholesome meal comprising of cereals, vegetables and salt.

Goddess Gauri

Gauri, along with her manifestations as Parvati and Uma, is represented four-armed, and with a distinctive conical Shiva-associated jatamukuta composed of hair braids, is embellished with jewels, including makara earrings and beautiful body jewelry.

According to the puranic and sastric sources, the goddess can be represented holding a variety of attributes, the most frequently cited being the gesture of granting boons, a rosary, trident or mirror, and a vase or gesturing protection, and accompanied by her children, Ganesa and Karttikeya. Here only one hand survives, and holds a lotus-stem upon which is a seated Ganesa. The depiction of Ganesa affirms her Parvati-Uma lineage. From traces of the now lost attribute, her upper right hand appears to have held a hooked staff sometimes associated with this goddess. She stands in symmetrical posture (samabhanga) upon a plain pedestal where a lizard-like creature is depicted, usually identified as an iguana. In this form Gauri is characterized as godhikavahini, ‘[the deity] riding on an iguana’. She is flanked by a pair of female celebrants standing in tribanga posture, and at her feet two kneeling female worshippers, presumably donors.

A further distinguishing feature narrows the textual source for this specific form of the goddess. The presence of four fire altars flanking the figure of the goddess indicate that this icon was composed on the basis of iconography described in the Agni-purana, a ritual prescription text devoted to purification fire rituals presided over by the Vedic deity Agni, god of fire.

Worship and importance of Goddess Gauri

Gauri is deeply revered by everyone but particularly more so by women, who adore the Goddess for her feminine characteristics. Her importance is underlined by the fact that a festival is also celebrated in her honor known as Gauri Habba. This festival is celebrated for reaping a rich harvest and also for protecting her female devotees. The Goddess is also venerated during the hugely popular nine day Navratri festival. This benevolent form of the Goddess is kind and blesses her devotees with boons, while at the same time punishing evil doers. Goddess Gauri is widely revered in various parts of India and has several temples dedicated to her. Two of the most prominent are the Mangla Gauri Temple in Gaya, Bihar and the Gauri Shanker Temple in Old Delhi.