Hartalika teej fast story (Hartalika Katha) was narrated by Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati. It is believed that Lord Shiva told the importance of Hartalika Katha and fast to Parvati ji to remind her of her previous birth.
Hartalika teej fast story | Hartalika Katha
Lord Shiva says:
"O Gauri, you did severe penance at a very young age in your previous birth to get me.
You neither ate nor drank anything, you only chewed air and dry leaves. Whether it was scorching sun or shivering cold, you did not move. You remained steadfast.
You did not drink water even in the rain. Seeing you in this condition, your father became sad.
Seeing him sad, Narad Muni came and said that "I have come here on the orders of Lord Vishnu, he wants to marry your daughter. I want to know your opinion about this."
After listening to Narad ji, your father said, "If this is what Lord Vishnu wants, then he has no objection."
But when you came to know about this marriage, you became sad.
When one of your friends asked the reason for your sadness, you said that I have chosen Lord Shiva with all my heart, but my father has fixed my marriage with Lord Vishnu.
I am stuck in a strange dilemma. Now I have no other option left except to give up my life.
Your friend was very wise. She said - what is the reason to give up my life here?
One should have patience in times of crisis. I am taking you to a dense forest which is also a place of worship and where your father will not be able to find you.
I have full faith that God will definitely help you.
You did the same. Your father became very worried and sad when he did not find you at home.
While he was searching for you, you and your friend went to a cave on the bank of the river to worship me. You made a Shivlinga out of sand.
My seat shook due to the effect of your hard penance and I soon reached you and asked you to ask for a boon.
Then you said, "I have accepted you as my husband with a true heart. If you have really come here pleased by my penance, then accept me as your better half."
Then saying "Tathastu", I returned to Mount Kailash.
At that time Giriraj reached there searching for you with his friends and relatives. You told them the whole story and said that I will go home only when you marry me to Mahadev.
Your father agreed and got us married.
The importance of this fast is that I give the desired result to any woman who observes this fast with full devotion.
In this entire episode, your friend had kidnapped you, so this fast was named Hartalika Vrat.
Say with love, Jai Parvati Ji, Jai Shiv Ji. Om Namah Shivaya.
Also read - How to do Hartalika teej puja at home - in English
Hartalika teej story significance | Hartalika katha significance
A belief associated with Hartalika story or Hartalika fast story is that women who observe this fast go to Shiva loka after living happily with their husbands, just like Parvati ji.
Hartalika teej fast rules
- Married women observe Haritalika Teej fast to keep their marital life intact and unmarried girls observe it to get their desired groom.
- Women observing fast on this day wake up before sunrise, take a bath and do full makeup.
- For worship, a pavilion is made with banana leaves and the idol of Gauri-Shankar is installed.
- Along with this, all the items of Suhaag are offered to Parvati ji.
- In the night, Jagran is done by singing Bhajans and Kirtans and Aarti is performed three times and the story of Shiva Parvati marriage is heard.
- The person observing this fast is forbidden to sleep. For this, he has to stay awake the whole night with Bhajans and Kirtans.
- After bathing in the morning, with reverence and devotion, cosmetics, clothes, food items, fruits, sweets and jewellery should be donated to a deserving married woman as per one's ability.
- If Shivlingas are made of sand, then they are immersed in water and the fast is concluded by eating cucumber.
