Story of Karwa Chauth

In the great olden days, there lived a pious Brahmin named Vedsharma in the forests. He was married to Leelavati. Thy lived a hermitage amidst lush greenery near a small forest pond. The forest was near the city of Indraprastha (then called Indraprasthapuri meaning the city of Indra).

Vedsharma and his wife were meritoriously blessed with seven virteous sons and a deft daughter who was named Veeravati. Veeravati was immensely fondled by her parents. She was equally pampered by all her brothers who dearly loved their only sister.

During their childhood, Veeravati and her brothers played in the courtyard. All if them took care of their sister. Once during a hot summer afternoon, Veeravati sat under a tree watching her brothers played around. When she felt thirsty, and asked for water all the brothers rushed to fetch water. In rush, the earthen pot placed on the courtyard wall fell down and broke. The brothers immediately rushed to fetch a pale and drew water from a nearby well. They were elated to see their sister quench her thirst with the water fetched by them.

Years passed by. Veeravati grew up being loved and greatly tendered by her parents, especially her brothers. Vedsharma married his sons gradually. When all sons were married, his wife Leelavati expressed her concern to marry away their only daughter - Veeravati. Vedsharma found an ideal match for his daughter and Veeravati was married to a virtuous Brahmin boy.

After her marriage, Veeravati came to her parents house for a stay. During this period of stay, the festival of Karwa Chauth came to be celebrated. Veeravati observed the fast with her mother and sister-in-laws praying for long life of their respective husbands.

The weather was extremely hot. Veeravati could not bear the wrath of weather and hunger. She became fragile and fell subconscious much before the moonrise to complete the fasting rituals.

Veeravati's brothers were agonised to see her miserable state. They all knew that Veeravati was a chaste wife - she would not accept good despite of her fragile condition unless the moon is sighed and worshipped it ritualistically.

The brothers thought of a plan to rescue their adorable sister. It was not persuasive plans, rather a plot that lead Veeravati to conclude the fasting rituals and accept food.

The brothers tricked Veeravati - one of them climbed a distantly standing tree of Vat with a lamp and sieve. Veeravati was taken to the terrace to sight

All brothers couldn't bear the miserable condition of their adorable sister. They knew that Veeravati, a Pativrata, would not take any food unless she sights the moon even if it costs her life. All brothers together made a plan to trick the sister to break her fast. One of the brothers climbed on the distant tree of Vat with sieve and lamp. When Veeravati gained the conscious, rest of the brothers told her that the moon has risen and brought her on the roof to sight the moon.

When Veeravati saw the lamp behind the sieve, she was in illusion. The illuminated lamp radiated its soft light from behind the sieve. Seeing the beautiful radiant aura, Veeravati believed that the moon had risen. Gladly, she bowed before 'the Moon God' and made offerings according to the rituals. Then she accepted the offering and broke her fast. 

However, as believed the fast of Karva Chauth has unseen powers. A strange sequence of events began to unfold. For someone like Veeravati, who ardently committed herself to service of God seeking blessings for life of her husband, nothing could have been more disturbing then to eventual find her husband meet his unexpected fate. When she broke he fast, she faced all sorts of bad omen.

When Veeravati began taking the food, in the first she found hair. She set aside the first bit of food. Following this, in the second bite she sneezed. In the consecutive bite, she received an invitation from her in-laws. Veeravati left her parent's house next morning to reach the nearby village where her in-laws lived. Much to her despair, she found her husband dead. Veeravati was devastated. She began lamenting and filled with deep remorse cried, "O Goddess, I fasted and prayed to you to protect my husband. Why have you ignored my prayers?"

Veeravati had deep faith in the power of fast of Karva Chauth. She realised that her husband came under the wrath of Goddess because of some mistake committed by her during fasting. She cried aloud, "O Goddess, reveal my mistake. Do not punish my husband for the mistake I have unknowingly committed".

Up in the heaven, Goddess Indrani was disturbed in her sleep by the profound mourning of Veeravati. She was touched by Veeravati's plea who was punished for  the sin committed by her unknowingly. She immediately descended to console Veeravati.

Seeing Goddess Indrani, Veeravati pleaded her, "O merciful Goddess, on this day of Karva Chauth when woman pray for longevity of husband's life, why have I met such ill fate? O Goddess, reveal me my offence!".

Veeravati was clueless about how it happened. She attempted to recall and found that she was mislead by the glowing which appeared like a moon. Upon this realization, she asked Goddess Indrani to show her a way to seek forgiveness for the mistake committed by her.

Upon this Goddess Indrani advised Veeravati, "Observe the fast on Chauth of each month including Karva Chauth. Seek forgiveness for moon and your husband shall come back to life".

Indrani advised Veeravati to observe Chauth fasting on each month throughout the year including the fasting of Karwa Chauth and assured that her husband would come back alive. Sayj g this the Goddess disappeared.

Veeravati began observing the monthly fast ritualistically with trust. The fast of Chauth is powerful and Veeravati's continued fasting on Chauth of each month aggregated immense powers. The powers brought life back to her husband.

The story of Veeravati winning back her husband reinforces the virtues of faith. It also indicates that rituals have associated religious merits and should be followed while performing particular  prayer or custom.