Bahula Chaturthi 1961

The traditional katha

This is the katha traditionally told by those who keep this vrata; no Purana source was found for it.

Long ago, in the land of Braj where Krishna grew up, there lived a cow named Bahula. She was gentle and devoted, and she was known above all for being true to her word. Bahula had a young calf who waited for her at home while she went out to graze.

Krishna loved Bahula. One day he decided to test how true to her word she really was.

That day Bahula wandered far into the forest while grazing, until she was a long way from home. Suddenly a lion stood in her path. The lion was pleased to see her, and he meant to eat her.

Bahula was frightened, but she pleaded with the lion. She told him that her calf was at home and hungry. She asked him to let her go home and feed her calf first, and she promised that she would then come back and give herself up to him.

The lion doubted her. But Bahula gave her word, and at last the lion let her go.

Bahula went home and fed her calf. Then she did what she had promised. She walked back into the forest to the lion and stood before him, ready to keep her word.

The lion was astonished. And then the lion was a lion no more. In his place stood Krishna himself. It was he who had taken the lion's form to test her.

Krishna was very pleased with Bahula's truthfulness and her faithfulness to her promise, and he blessed her. He declared that she would be worshipped on this Chaturthi. So the day came to be called Bahula Chaturthi, and on it families honour the cow and her calf, remembering the cow who would not break her word even to save her own life.