Kokila Vrat Katha | Legends of Kokila Vrat

Kokila Vrat Katha

Dharmaraja Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna - "O Lord! Kindly describe such a Vrat, by observing which noble women may always maintain mutual love and harmony toward their husbands."

Replying to this question asked for the welfare of the world, Lord Shri Krishna said - "O Dharmaraja! On the sacred banks of the Yamuna there is a most divine and beautiful city named Mathura. Lord Rama established His brother Shatrughna as the king of Mathura. Shatrughna's consort was named Kirtimala. She was extremely devoted to her husband. One day, Kirtimala respectfully bowed to her family preceptor, Rishi Vasistha, and said - 'O best among sages! Kindly tell me of such a Vrat by which my eternal marital bliss may increase.'

Rishi Vasistha said - 'O daughter Kirtimala! I will describe the most excellent Vrat. Listen carefully. A woman who desires welfare should, on the Full Purnima Tithi of the month of Ashadha, in the evening, take the following Sankalpa - 'Until the end of the month of Shravana, I will bathe every day, eat only at night, and sleep upon the ground.' Thereafter, in the morning, she should take the necessary materials and go to a river, pond, or similar water body. After cleaning her teeth, for the first eight days she should bathe properly after applying a paste made of fragrant substances, sesame seeds, and Amla. For the next eight days, she should bathe after applying a paste made of the Sarvaushadhi, that is, all sacred herbs, namely Kuta, Jatamansi, yellow and black turmeric, Mura, Shilajit, Chandana, Vacha, Champaka, and Nagarmotha. These are also known as the Dashaushadhi, that is, the ten sacred herbs. Thereafter, for eight days she should bathe after applying a paste of Vacha. During the final six days, she should bathe with water mixed with powdered sesame and Amla along with the sacred herbs.

According to the procedure described in the Bhavishya Purana, for the first eight days one should bathe with a paste of fragrant substances, sesame, and Amla; for the next eight days with a paste of sacred herbs; and for the remaining days with a paste of Vacha. After that, one should meditate upon Lord Surya. After meditation, one should make an idol of a Kokila, that is, the cuckoo bird, from sesame powder. Thereafter, it should be worshipped with Lala Chandana, i.e., red sandalwood, Champa flowers, leaves, incense, Dipa, Naivedya, sesame seeds, Akshata, Durva grass, and other offerings. Naivedya of sesame and rice should be offered. After the worship, one should pray with the following Mantra -

Meaning - "O Kokila Devi! You are dark in complexion like sesame seeds. You derive happiness from sesame, and sesame is most dear to You. Grant me marital bliss, prosperity, and the joy of sons. I bow to You."

After completing the worship in this manner, one should return home and partake of food. Observing the Vrat according to the above procedure for one month, at the end an idol of Kokila should be made from sesame paste, that is, from powdered sesame. It should be adorned with gem-studded eyes and golden wings, decorated with garments and ornaments, and established in a copper vessel. Thereafter, along with garments, grains, jaggery, and Dakshina, it should be donated to one's mother-in-law, father-in-law, astrologer, priest, Purohita, Daivajna or a Brahmin. Any woman who observes the Kokila Vrat with devotion in the above manner remains blessed with eternal marital fortune for seven births. In this world she enjoys the happiness of a loving and caring husband, and at the end of her life she ascends a noble celestial Vimana and goes to Gauriloka, that is, the divine abode of Mata Parvati.'

Having heard the procedure of the Vrat from the mouth of Rishi Vasistha, Kirtimala observed the Kokila Vrat according to his instructions. As a result of the Vrat, she attained eternal marital bliss, sons, happiness, and prosperity, and she also received the special affection, love, and grace of King Shatrughna. Likewise, any woman who observes this Vrat with faith, devotion, and sincerity also attains happiness and auspicious fortune by the grace of Mata Gauri." Thus concludes the Kokila Vrat as described in the Bhavishya Purana.