Jaya Parvati Vrat (06-Jul-2017 to 11-Jul-2017)

Jaya Parvati Vrat is a sacred fast usually observed by both married and unmarried women in India. This Vrat (fast) spans for a duration of five days and falls in the ‘Ashada’ (July-August) month of the traditional Hindu calendar. The Jaya Parvathi Vrat is primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi devi. The Vrat is more popular among the women from the western states of India like Gujarat and Maharashtra. People perform this Vrat with utmost dedication and belief, seeking the divine couple’s blessings for the happiness and prosperity of their families.

Jaya Parvathi Vrat (fasting) commences from the ‘tritiya’ (13th day) of the ‘Shukla Paksha’ (the waxing of the moon) in the month of ‘Ashada’ and is observed for five successive days, ending on the ‘Krishna Paksha Tritiya’ (3rd day of the waning phase of moon) in the same month. The fifth and final day of this Vrat requires the observers to stay vigil all night. This ritual is popularly called as ‘Jaya Parvati Vrat Jagran’. People traditionally observe this five day Vrat for 5, 7, 9, or even 11 years.

They also follow Gauri Vrat sometimes.

Legend Behind Jaya Parvati Vrat

According to legends, there once lived a Brahmin couple who were staunch devotees of Lord Shiva. They lived a happy and contented life, except for the fact that they were childless. The couple visited the temple every day to offer prayers to the Lord, seeking child boon. The divine Lord was moved by their devotion and hence made a revelation. He informed them that his Shiva Linga is found on a particular place in the jungle to which no puja are being performed. He insisted the couple to find that Linga  and offer regular prayers to it, doing which would fulfill their wish of bearing a child. The pleased Brahmin couple went to the jungle as instructed and found the Shiva Linga. As part of their worship, the couple needed flowers to offer the God. So the Brahmin set out in search for flowers but unfortunately he was bitten by a venomous snake and fell unconscious. When he dint return back even after a long time, his worried wife decided to go in search of her husband. She devotedly prayed the Lord that husband should be safe. Lord Shiva was thoroughly pleased with her pure devotion and thus brought her husband back to consciousness.

Later, the pious couple worshipped  the Linga as advised earlier and were blessed with a son. This tale is said to be the origin behind the Jaya Parvati Vrat.

Rituals during Jaya Parvati Vrat

1. As part of the Jaya Parvathi Vrat, devotees offer prayers to the divine couple Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. A special ritual called the Uma Maheshwara puja is also performed in few households on the occasion.
2. Observing Vrat (Fasting) is the paramount ritual of this religious event. Married women customarily observe a partial fast on all five days of the Jaya Parvati Vrat. They refrain from consuming certain commodities like wheat, salt and few other vegetables.
3. On the 1st day of this holy Vrat,‘Javara’ or wheat seeds are sown in a small earthen pot and is placed near the place of worship. This pot is then worshipped on all 5 days of the Vrat. A ‘Nagala’ (cotton wool necklace) is decorated with vermillion or kumkum and is offered to the Lord. The wheat seeds are watered every morning. This ritual is followed until the final of the Vrat.
4. A ritual called the Jaya Parvathi Jagran is performed on the 5th and final day of this festival. The observer of this Vrat should mandatorily keep vigil or ‘jagran’ all night, together with reciting holy verses on Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati.
5. The 5 day long Vrat (fast) is successfully completed the following morning (6^th day morning) by consuming food containing salt and wheat. The wheat grass which by now is grown a bit, is retrieved from the pot and is later immersed in a sacred water body.

Benefits of Obeserving Jaya Parvati Vrat

There is a widespread belief that married women who devoutly observe this Vrat, along with dedicated worship of the Lord are ensured with a happy and satisfying married life. Performing this holy Vrat also bestows one with progeny. Young girls and Unmarried women undertaking the Jaya Parvathi Vrat is said to be blessed with an ideal life partner.

Radhika T V