Hartalika Teej

Hartalika Teej fast is observed on the third day of Shuklapaksha of Bhadrapada month. This fast is very special for women. On this day, married women and unmarried girls worship Goddess Parvati and Lord Shankar. For women observing Haritalika Vrat, this fast is a symbol of their husband's longevity and happiness. The woman who observes this fast, her husband, and her family will always be full of happiness and wealth and by observing this fast, unmarried girl get a desirable groom. This fast was called Haritalika fast because Mother (Mata) Parvati's friend had kidnapped her from her father's house and taken her to the forest. Har means 'to kidnap' and Alika means 'friend'.

How to worship Hartalika fast

A woman who wants good luck should observe this fast properly. Hartalika fast is even more difficult than the Karva Chauth fast because the Karva Chauth fast is completed after offering Arghya (water) to the moon, but this fast is to be kept without water for the whole day and the fast is broken only after worshiping the next day. On the day of Haritalika Teej, after waking up in the morning, a woman should finish all her work, take a bath, etc. After this, the pavilion should be decorated with pillars of banana leaves. Make a clay idol of Shri Gauri Shankar and install it with proper devotion. After that, worship Lord Shiva with incense, scent, flowers, etc., and after worshiping, offer food to Mata Gauri and Lord Shiva. After worshiping, one should pray to Mata Gauri and Lord Shiva for good fortune and also should stay awake at night by chanting bhajans and kirtans because sleeping during this fast is considered prohibited. While singing bhajans on this day, conch, Bheri, Mridang, etc. should be blown. Married women wish for the long life of their husbands and pray to Mata Parvati and Lord Shiva to make their married life happy. The next day, after worshiping in the morning, the idols of Mata Parvati and Lord Shiva are immersed with reverence.

Story heard on Haritalika Teej

Mata Parvati was Sati, daughter of Daksh Prajapati in her previous birth. One day Daksh performed a huge yagya, a yagya was being held at his father's house. When Sati ji heard this, she too became eager to go to her father's house. But one day in the meeting, King Daksh became angry with Lord Shiva. Since then he started hating Lord Shiva. That is why he did not even invite Lord Shiva to the Yagya ceremony. Mata Sati prayed to Lord Shiva to go to her father's house for the Yagya. Shivji said- It is not appropriate to go without invitation. In this way, Shiv ji kept explaining to Sati in various ways, but even after many efforts, Sati ji did not agree, so Shiv ji allowed her to go. After receiving permission, Mata Sati went to her father's yagya ceremony. Lord Shiva's place in the Yagya was vacant. Sati could not bear this insult and she sacrificed her body by burning herself in the fire of the same yagya.

Mata Sati was destroyed, she was reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya. In this birth, Mata Parvati performed very difficult penance on the banks of Ganga to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Seeing this harsh penance of Parvati Ji, her father Himalaya Raj became very worried. Meanwhile, one day Narad Ji came to Giriraj Ji and said that Lord Vishnu wanted to marry his daughter. Giriraj happily accepted it. After this Narad ji went to Lord Vishnu and told him that Giriraj wanted to marry his daughter to you, on this Lord Vishnu ji also agreed. When Parvatiji heard this, she became very sad and started wailing loudly. After mourning like this, one of her friends asked Mata Parvati the reason for this. Mata told her that I am doing hard penance to marry Lord Shankar and on the other hand my father wants to marry me to Lord Vishnu. Will you help me? Otherwise, I will sacrifice my life.

Mata Parvati's friend was very far-sighted. She took her to a dense forest. Her father Giriraj became very worried after not finding Parvati ji at home. The thought of marrying Vishnu was coming to his mind again and again. The search for Mata Parvati started. Parvati ji kept doing penance on the banks of the river. On the third day of Shuklapaksha of Bhadrapada month, Mata Parvati started the worship by making an idol of clay and also gave up food and water. Lord Shankar's meditation was broken due to her difficult penance. Shankar ji appeared and asked Parvati ji to ask for a boon. Then Parvati Ji asked for a boon from Shiv Ji to make her his wife. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife. Parvati ji being with her friend completed the fast of Lord Shiva. At the same time, Himalayaraj arrived there in search of his daughter. When he asked Mata Parvati ji the reason for leaving the house, Parvati ji said I have taken a vow to marry Shiv ji, you wanted to marry me to Vishnu ji and I want to marry Shiv ji. For this reason, I had to leave home. I will go home with you only if you marry me to Shivji and not to Vishnu ji, otherwise I will give up my life. Giriraj agreed to this and got Parvati Ji married to Shankar Ji.

Listening to this story of Hartalika Fast also has special significance. Reading or listening to this story keeps the mind calm and women also get the results of fasting by listening to this story.

Related topics

• Kajari Teej
• Hariyali Teej