Brihaspati Brihaspativara Vrat Katha | Brihaspati Guruvara Vrat Katha

Brihaspati Brihaspativara Vrat Katha

Once, in a village, there lived a Sahukara, i.e., wealthy merchant. That merchant was extremely rich, and there was no shortage of food, clothing, or any other necessities in his household. However, his wife, Sethani, was very miserly. She never engaged in acts of charity or righteousness and would even drive away beggars without giving them anything.

Once, on a Brihaspativara, i.e., Thursday, an elderly Sadhu came to the Sethani's door to seek alms. The revered Sadhu Maharaj called out loudly "Bhiksham Dehi", i.e., please give alms. At that time, the Sethani was smearing the courtyard of her house with cow dung. Therefore, she said to the sage - "Maharaj! At this moment, I am plastering the house. Right now, I can't give you any alms. Please come again at some other time when I am free." Hearing her words, the sage returned disappointed with an empty begging bag, without receiving any charity.

After a few days, the same Sadhu again came to her door and began asking for alms. At that time, the Sethani was playing with her child. Therefore, she said - "Maharaj! What should I do? I don't have any time, so I cannot give you alms." Once again, the sage returned empty-handed without receiving anything.

For the third time, the Sadhu again came to her door to seek alms. But just like before, the Sethani tried to avoid him by making excuses. This time, however, after hearing her excuse, the Sadhu said - "You always say that you have no time to give alms. If you had plenty of time or complete leisure, would you then give me alms?"

The Sethani replied - "Certainly, Maharaj! If that happens, it would be your great kindness." Then the sage said - "Very well! I will tell you a secret method. Listen carefully, on Brihaspativara, after sunrise, you should get up late. Sweep the house and gather all the garbage in one corner inside the house. Don't draw any auspicious designs in the house. Then, after completing your daily ablutions, instruct the men of the house to do Kshaurakarma, i.e., shave on that day. After cooking food, keep it behind the stove. In the evening, light the Diya only after darkness sets in. Don't wear yellow clothes on Brihaspativara, nor consume any yellow-colored food. If you follow these practices, you will have no work to do and will always remain free."

Following Sadhu's instructions, the Sethani began doing all these actions. She started waking up late on Brihaspativara, sweeping and collecting garbage in a corner of the house. The men of the house began shaving on Brihaspativara at her insistence. She would cook food and keep it behind the stove. She continued performing all these acts every Brihaspativara. As a result of these actions, her accumulated merits were quickly destroyed, and all her wealth and prosperity were lost. Not even a single grain of food remained in her house.

After some days, the same sage returned again and called out for alms at her door. This time, Sethani said sorrowfully - "Maharaj! Not even a single grain of food remains in my house. What can I give you? I have become like a beggar." Hearing her pitiable condition, the Sadhu said - "When your granaries were full and your family was prosperous with wealth and grain, you did not give charity due to lack of time. Now you have complete leisure, yet even now you are not engaging in charity. What is it that you truly desire?"

Realizing her mistake through Sadhu's sharp words, the Sethani said - "Maharaj! Kindly tell me about a way by which my home may once again become prosperous as before. I promise that whatever you instruct, I will follow."

Moved by her plea, Sadhu said - "On Brihaspativara, wake up early in the morning, complete your daily ablutions, and purify your house by smearing it with cow dung. Instruct the men of the house not to shave on Brihaspativara. Donate food and water to the needy. Light Diya at the proper time in the evening. If you follow these practices regularly, then by the grace of Lord Brihaspati, all your wishes will surely be fulfilled."

Following Sadhu's instructions, the Sethani began performing all these actions with devotion. By observing these rules, her house once again became filled with wealth and grains as before. By the grace of Lord Brihaspati, she enjoyed various kinds of happiness for a long time and ultimately attained spiritual liberation. Similarly, whoever observes the Brihaspati Vrat and performs its worship, and listens to the Brihaspativara Vrat Katha, all their wishes are fulfilled by the grace of Lord Brihaspati.