| SATYA
NARAYAN VRATA |
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| Observed on :
The Full Moon Day |
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| God Worshipped
:
Lord Narayana |
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| Religion :
Hindu |
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| No. of stories
:
Five stories connected with this Vrata |
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| YOU ARE all familiar with
Narada Rishi. He is the Triloka Sanchari-the one who moves about in the three
worlds When he once visited the earth plane, there was great misery. He was
unable to find a way to relieve human suffering. He at once approached Lord
Narayana and related to Him the sad state of affairs on earth. |
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| Lord Narayana said to Narada, "O
venerable Rishi, let people observe the Satya Narayana Vrata in the evening of
Shankranti or Purnima. Let them all hear the story (Katha) of Satya Narayana.
All miseries will come to an end. There is no doubt of this." |
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| Rishi Narada thereupon
returned to earth and preached the glory of the Satya Narayana Vrata. Many
observed the vow without taking any food during the course of the day and
attained what they desired. All were happy and prosperous.
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| The observance of the Satya
Narayana Vrata does not cost much. You need only give a small gift to the
pundit who comes to read the story and then distribute some prasad which also
need not be very costly. Some wheat flour and sugar will make up the prasad. A
little curd and some fruit are required. Even the poorest man can observe this
Vrata. |
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| In North India the vow is
observed by the vast majority of people. It takes about three hours to complete
the whole observance. It is generally observed on the full moon day,
particularly the Kartik, Vaisakh, Sravan and Chaitra Purnimas and the
Shankranti day. It an also be done on new moon days.
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| Five stories are connected
with this Vrata. They speak about the glory of Lord Narayana and His Grace, His
prasad, and of the incalculable benefit derived by observing the Vrata. He who
hears these stories with faith, devotion and one-pointedness of mind derives
considerable benefit. The first of these is the story of Narada, narrated
above. The other stories have great moral lessons in them concerning
truthfulness, fulfillment of promises, etc.
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| 2. The Story of a Poor
Brahmin |
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| There was a very poor
Brahmin. He was living on alms. Lord Narayana appeared before him in the form
of an old Brahmin, asked him to observe the Satya Narayana Vrata and gave him
His word of assurance that he would be free from poverty, by observing this
Vrata. The Brahmin acted accordingly. All his desires were fulfilled. |
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| 3. The Story of a Wood-cutter |
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| The game Brahmin then did
the Vrata on a grand scale. A poor wood-cutter entered the compound of the
Brahmin to drink some water. The Katha of Satya Narayana was going on. The
wood-cutter, attracted only by the skill of the story-teller, sat down and
heard it with rapt attention. He also was inspired to observe the Vrata in his
house. He took some prasad and ate it. |
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| Then he went to the
market-place and sold his bundle of fuel. He received double the usual amount
for his fuel. He immediately purchased the things that were necessary for the
Vrata and observed it along with his family member with intense faith and
devotion. All his desires were fulfilled. He enjoyed everything that was
possible on this earth plane. After death he attained the supreme abode of
Satya Loka where Truth alone prevails. |
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