Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha and Vinayak Ji Katha
Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha
A merchant had one daughter and seven sons. On Karwa Chauth, the merchant’s wife, daughter and daughters-in-law observed the fast. At night, when the sons began their meal, they asked their sister to eat. She replied, “Brother! The moon has not risen yet. After it rises, I shall offer arghya and then eat.”
The brothers went outside the town, lit a fire and brought a sieve. Showing its light through the sieve, they told their sister, “Sister! The moon has risen. Offer arghya and eat.”
The sister called her sisters-in-law too, asking them to offer arghya to the moon. But they knew what their husbands had done. They said, “Sister! The moon has not risen yet. Your brothers are deceiving you by showing firelight through a sieve.”
The sister paid no attention to them. She offered arghya to the light her brothers had shown and ate. As her fast was thus broken, Lord Ganesha became displeased with her. Afterwards, her husband became gravely ill, and everything in their home was spent on his illness. When the merchant’s daughter discovered her fault, she was filled with remorse. After seeking Lord Ganesha’s forgiveness, she began observing the Chaturthi fast again with the prescribed rites. With devotion, she devoted herself to treating everyone respectfully and receiving everyone’s blessings.
Seeing her actions accompanied by sincere devotion, Lord Ganesha became pleased with her. He granted her husband life, freed him from illness and then blessed them with wealth and property.
Likewise, whoever observes the Chaturthi fast with sincere devotion, free from deceit, shall find happiness in every way and be freed from suffering and difficulties.
The Story of Lord Ganesha in His Vinayak Form
In a town lived a blind elderly woman with her son and daughter-in-law. Every day, she worshipped Lord Ganesha with devotion and the prescribed rites. One day, pleased with her, Lord Ganesha appeared and said, “Elderly mother! Ask for whatever you wish.”
She replied, “How and what should I ask for? I do not even know how to ask.”
Lord Ganesha said, “Ask your daughter-in-law and son, and then make your request. I shall return tomorrow.”
She asked her son, who said, “Ask for wealth.” Her daughter-in-law said, “Ask for a grandson.” The elderly woman thought that both were speaking only of their own interests.
So she asked her women neighbours. They said, “Old mother, you have only a few days left to live. Why ask for wealth or a grandson? Ask for your sight, so that the rest of your life may pass comfortably.”
But the elderly woman did not follow their advice. She thought, “Let me ask for something that pleases my son and daughter-in-law, and also for what I myself need.” The next day, Lord Ganesha came and said, “Elderly mother! Ask for whatever you wish.”
She said, “If you are pleased with me, grant me wealth of nine crores. Grant me a healthy body, the light of my eyes, a grandson, happiness for the whole family, and liberation at the end.”
Lord Ganesha said, “Elderly mother! You have outwitted us. Nevertheless, you shall receive your boon—so be it!” Having said this, Lord Ganesha disappeared. The elderly woman received everything according to the boon.
O Siddhi Vinayak Ganesha! Just as you gave that elderly woman everything, graciously bestow your blessings upon us too. Hail Ganpati Baba!
