Jaya Parvati Vrat: Its importance and guidelines to perform the Pooja

The Jaya Parvati Vrat begins on July 16 and ends on July 20, 2008. Unmarried girls observe fast on this day and worship Goddess Parvati to get a good husband. Married women stay awake on the night of the last day of the Vrat and this staying awake is referred to as Jaya Parvati Jagran (on July 20, 2008). It is also known as the Gauri Vrat.

This religious observance starts on the 13th day in the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon) in the month of Ashadha (July) and is observed for five consecutive days. A partial fast is observed during the five day period of the Vrata. During this Vrata eating any food with salt is avoided.

There is a legend behind the Jaya Parvati Vrat. There was a Brahmin couple. They were devotees of Lord Shiva. They had everything in their life but a child. They used to worship Lord Shiva every day in the temple. Lord Shiva was propitiated with the devotion of the couple and there was a revelation which said 'My Shiva Linga is at a certain place in the jungle. No body is performing its puja. If you go there and perform its puja, then your wishes will be fulfilled.' The Brahmin couple was pleased when they heard this. They went to the jungle and found out the place where Lord Shiva's Shiva Linga was. The couple found the Linga and the Brahmin went in search for flowers to perform the puja, where he was bitten by a snake and fell unconscious. His wife got worried as her husband did not return and went in search for him. She prayed intensely for her husband's safety. Lord Shiva saw the true devotion of the Brahmin woman and brought her husband back to consciousness. Later, the couple prayed at the Linga and they were blessed with a son.

This is how the Jaya Parvati Vrat originated. During the Vrat one cannot eat any food with salt. No wheat products or vegetables are allowed either. It is believed that Jaya Parvati Vrat brings happiness to a family and a good husband for the girl doing the fast.

On the first day of the Vrat, wheat seeds (Javara) are planted in a small bowl / pot and kept by the temple in the house. Puja is then conducted with the Javara pot and a 'nagla' - a necklace made from cotton wool and decorated with vermillion spots is placed around the edge of the pot. Every morning the same rituals are carried out and the wheat seeds are watered.

A full puja is done at the Mataji temple on the final day to break the fast and a full meal with salt and wheat can then be taken. On the 6th day after taking bath the Javara are taken from the pot and planted in the garden.

Ganesha advises you to recite the following mantra of Goddess Parvati. This will bring happiness and prosperity to you.

II OM AIM HRIM KLIM CHAMUNDAYEI VICHHE II

Ganesha's Grace,
Malav Bhatt
The GaneshaSpeaks Team