Gangaur 1945

From the Matsya Purana

The name Gangaur joins Gan, a name of Shiva, with Gaur, Gauri, a name of Parvati.

Lord Vishnu, in his Matsya form, told King Manu about a vrata called Saubhagya Shayana, which gives every wish. Saubhagya means good fortune, the blessing of a happy married life.

Long ago, when the worlds had been burnt away at the end of an age, all the good fortune of every living being came together in one place. It rested in Vaikuntha, on the chest of Lord Vishnu.

After a long time, when creation began again, a great column of fire rose up while Brahma and Vishnu argued about which of them was greater. Its heat was so fierce that the good fortune flowed out from Vishnu's chest, like a stream of nectar. Before it reached the ground, Daksha, the son of Brahma, caught it in the sky and drank it. At once he gained beauty, strength and great radiance. What was left fell to the earth and became eight things that bring good fortune to people, among them sugarcane, milk, safflower, saffron and salt.

From the good fortune that Daksha had drunk, a daughter was born to him. She was Sati. Because her grace went beyond all the worlds, she was also called Lalita. Lord Shiva, who holds the bow Pinaka, married this most beautiful one of the three worlds.

Manu asked how this goddess should be worshipped. Vishnu told him that on the Tritiya of the bright half of the spring month, Sati was wedded to the Lord of the universe with the sacred wedding mantras. So on that day the devotee worships Shiva and Gauri together, the goddess with the moon crowned Lord beside her.

Of this vrata the Purana says that the goddess, full of good fortune, gives both the joys of this life and liberation. Whoever keeps it is never parted from good fortune, health, beauty and long life. A woman or a young girl who keeps it gains the same reward, cherished by the goddess's grace. Even one who only listens to it lives long in heaven. Long ago it was kept by Kama, the god of love, by Varuna, by Nandi, and by kings of old.

Another story

This is the katha traditionally told by families who keep this vrata.

Shiva and Parvati, with the sage Narada, were travelling the earth. In one village, the poor women came first with water, fruit and flowers, all they had, and Parvati blessed them with lasting married happiness. Later the wealthy women came with fine dishes. Shiva asked how she would bless them, since she had given away her blessing already. Parvati cut her finger and let drops of her own blood fall on them, and they too were blessed with the same good fortune she had.

Then Parvati bathed in the river, made a Shiva linga of sand and worshipped it. Shiva appeared and promised that married women who worship Parvati and him on this Tritiya of Chaitra will be blessed with long and happy married lives.