Gowri Tritiya 1945

The traditional katha

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

In the vrata tradition, this story is told by Lord Shiva to his son Shanmukha. Shanmukha had asked his father for a vow that anyone could keep, one that would bring children, prosperity and happiness. Shiva answered him with the story of the Swarna Gowri Vrata.

Once there was a king named Chandraprabha who ruled the city of Vimalapura, on the banks of the river Saraswati. He had two queens, and of the two he loved the elder queen more.

One day the king went hunting in a thick forest. He hunted until he grew tired and thirsty, and he came to a pond. There he found a group of women worshipping together. He asked them what puja they were doing.

The women told him that it was the Swarna Gowri Vrata. Married women keep it on the Tritiya of the bright half of Bhadrapada, they said, and the goddess grants every wish to those who keep it. They told him how it is done.

The king kept the vrata there with devotion. He tied the sacred thread of the puja on his right wrist and went home to his palace. There he told both his queens about the greatness of the Swarna Gowri Vrata.

The elder queen did not believe him. In her anger she pulled the sacred thread from the king's wrist and threw it away onto a plant that had dried up.

A few days later, fresh green leaves sprouted on that dry plant. The younger queen saw this. She took the thread from the plant, tied it on her own wrist, and worshipped Gowri with full faith. The goddess blessed her with wealth, a happy home and the love of the king.

The elder queen, who had scorned the vrata, lost her place in the palace. She wandered through the forests, suffering and weeping. At last Goddess Parvati appeared before her and comforted her. The queen understood her mistake. She kept the Swarna Gowri Vrata with devotion, and Gowri forgave her and blessed her with happiness and the love of her husband. After that the king and the queen lived happily together.