The Hindi month of Shravan is the most auspicious month of the Hindu calendar. The whole month is dedicated to Shiva and Shakti. Devotees observe Shravan Somwar fast every Monday while Mangala Gauri fast is observed every Tuesday. It is said that Mother Parvati had observed innumerable fasts to attain Shiva, and one of those is Mangala Gauri Vrat.
The fast is observed by married women to seek blessings for their husband’s long life while the unmarried girls keep this fast to get a good husband.
Puja vidhi
Women who observe Mangala Gauri fast perform the puja vidhi after taking a bath. First, the idol or image of Mangala Gauri is placed on red cloth on a wooden plate. After that, nine planets made from rice and sixteen goddesses made from wheat are drawn on the plate, where a kalash is also placed. Devotees then perform puja by offering water, milk, curd, roli, sandalwood, vermilion, henna and kajal, bangles, nuts, betel nuts, and cloves. After that, Mangala Gauri Vrat Katha is told and heard by the devotees. The puja is concluded by taking prasad. Those who observe fast take meals only once during the entire day.
Vrat Katha
In ancient times a merchant named Dharmapala lived in a town with his wife. There was no dearth of wealth in his house, and his wife was also very intelligent and virtuous. He had all kinds of happiness in his life, except for one thing. Dharmapala did not have any child, and to beget a child, he used to do a lot of fasting, rituals and charity along with his wife. Seeing his good deeds, God was pleased with him, and in some time, the merchant was blessed with a child. But his happiness waned when after the birth of the son, astrologers predicted that the child was short-lived and would die of a snakebite in the sixteenth year of his life.
Dharmapala got very distressed, but he left all his worries to God. He got his son married to a beautiful girl. Incidentally, the girl’s mother used to observe the Mangla Gauri fast, due to which the girl was blessed with unbroken good fortune. As a result of this fast, Dharmapala’s son got a long life and lived a happy life.
Pooja Samagri
Fruits, flowers, laddoos, betel nuts, cardamom, cloves, cumin, coriander (all items should be 16 in number), 16 items adornments including saree, 16 bangles, five types of dry Nuts (16 each) Seven types of cereals (16 each) as per Mangla Gauri Puja Vidhi.
Women who fast should start these fasts with a resolution on the first Tuesday of the month of Shravan. On the morning of the first Tuesday of the month of Shravan, after taking a bath etc., the idol or image of Mangala Gauri is placed on a wooden plate along with a red cloth. Nine planets are made from rice and placed on the red cloth on the plate; sixteen goddesses are made from wheat. Placing rice and flowers on one side of the plate, the Kalash is established. Keep some water in the vase, as per the rules of Mangla Gauri Puja.
After this, a lamp is made from wheat flour; in this lamp, four sticks of 16 strings each are made and lit. First of all, Lord Ganesha is worshipped. In this worship, water, roli, mouli, sandalwood, vermilion, betel nut, betel leaf, rice, flowers, cardamom, belpatra, fruits, dry fruits and Dakshina are offered to Lord Ganesha. After this, the worship of the Kalash is done in the same manner as the worship of Lord Ganesh. Then the nine planets and sixteen goddesses are on August 31, 2023, Thursday. shipped. All the material offered should be given to some poor person.
After anointing the idol of Mangala Gauri with water, milk, curd, etc., put roli, sandalwood, vermilion, henna and kajal on her idol. The Goddess (Mother) is decorated with sixteen items of makeup. Besides, sixteen types of flowers, leaves, garlands etc., are offered; thereafter nuts, betel nuts, cloves, henna, bangles are offered. In the end, the story of Mangala Gauri Vrat is told. After listening to the story, married women donate sixteen laddus to their mother-in-law, and sister-in-law and meals are to be taken only once during the day. After this, prasad is offered to the Brahmins. The idol of Goddess Mangala Gauri is immersed in a river or pond on Wednesday, the second day of the last fast. This fast is observed for five consecutive years. Thereafter, Udyapan is carried out.
Udyapan Method
It should be done after Tuesday fastings in Shravan month are completed. Eating is prohibited during Udyapan. Worship should be done by applying mehndi. The worship should be performed by four scholars. A veil should be tied to the pavilion by placing four banana poles at the four corners. Place a bowl on the Kalash and establish Mangala Gauri in it. All the items like the sari, nath (nose ring) and other marriage-related things of the worshipping woman should be kept on it. After the havan, you should listen to the Katha (story) and then aarti should be performed. Sixteen flour laddus, some money and a sari should be placed in a silver vessel and given to mother-in-law and should touch her feet. The scholars who have performed the puja should also be given food and gifts. If women undertake Mangala Gauri Vrat 2023 with full rituals and sincerity, they will get all the happiness and necessities of married life.
BENEFITS ACCORDING TO LEGENDS
– Married women who perform the fast are granted a happy and wealthy marriage by Mata Mangla Gauri.
– It also guards against blood-related illnesses.
– The negative effects of the Mars planet are lessened by doing this ritual, and individuals who have the Mangla Dosha in their horoscope must perform the Mangla Gauri Vrat.
– It brings prosperity, defeats adversaries, ends loans, and wins cases.
– This Vrat also lessens the Manglik dosha, which is a horoscope.