Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comMahalakshmi Vrat Katha
The Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha tells how the Mahalakshmi Vrat began through a boon granted to a Brahmin, recited on the occasion of the sixteen-day vow that begins on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami, presented here in full.
Chapter 1 · The Brahmin's Boon
Long ago, a Brahmin lived in a certain village, and he worshipped Lord Vishnu every day without fail. Seeing his unwavering devotion, Lord Vishnu one day appeared before him and told him to ask for any boon he desired.
The Brahmin asked for the boon that Devi Lakshmi come to dwell permanently in his home. Vishnu then revealed a secret, every day, a woman comes to this temple to pat cow-dung cakes; she is none other than Devi Lakshmi herself. Invite her into your home, and her arrival will fill your household with wealth and grain. With these words, Lord Vishnu vanished on the spot.
Chapter 2 · The Beginning of the Mahalakshmi Vrat
From dawn the very next day, the Brahmin sat outside the temple, waiting for the goddess to appear. As soon as the woman came to pat her cow-dung cakes, he stepped forward and begged her to come to his home.
Hearing this, Lakshmi at once understood that this request had come at Vishnu's own prompting. She then advised the Brahmin to keep the vow of Mahalakshmi, sixteen days of observing this vrat, followed by an offering of arghya to the moon on the final day, would bring the vow to completion.
The Brahmin completed the vow exactly as prescribed, and the goddess in turn granted every one of his wishes. From that time onward, the Mahalakshmi Vrat has been observed with devotion.
Chapter 3 · The Second Story, of Kunti and Gandhari
There is another episode from the time of the Mahabharata, in Hastinapur, on the day of the Mahalakshmi Vrat, Queen Gandhari invited the women of the whole city to worship at her palace, but sent no invitation to Kunti. Gandhari's sons brought their mother clay for the ritual, from which a large elephant was sculpted and set up in the palace courtyard.
As the women of the city set out for the worship, Kunti's spirits sank. When her sons asked the reason, she told them the whole matter. Hearing this, Arjuna said: mother, you make the arrangements for the puja, and I shall take care of the elephant. He then went to the god Indra and returned with the elephant Airavata, after which Kunti carried out the worship in full proper form.
As word spread that Indra's own Airavata had arrived at Kunti's door for the worship, the other women of the city flocked there too, and together they all completed the rites in due form.
How to Read Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha
Beginning on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami, worship Devi Mahalakshmi daily for sixteen days, and tie a sixteen-knotted thread (mauli) on the wrist. On the sixteenth day, perform the worship according to due rites, offer arghya to the moon at night, and complete the vow.
About Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha
The Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha tells of a boon a Brahmin received from Lord Vishnu, his inviting Devi Lakshmi to his home, and the beginning of the sixteen-day vow on her instruction, along with a second story involving Kunti and Gandhari. This page has three chapters, the first covers the Brahmin's boon, the second the beginning of the Mahalakshmi Vrat, and the third the second story of Kunti and Gandhari.
This vow begins on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami and continues for sixteen days, concluding on the final day with an offering of arghya to the moon. This page presents the full text of both stories in plain Hindi, with adjustable text size and print support.
The Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha has no single named author, it is traditionally associated with the Bhavishyottara Purana, and is recited on the occasion of the sixteen-day Mahalakshmi Vrat that begins on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami. The story given here follows the events and sequence of this circulating account, but its wording has been composed independently, so that it is not a word-for-word copy of any single website's or publication's text. Alongside the Brahmin's-boon story, this same account also carries a second story involving Kunti and Gandhari, popularly known as the 'second katha', kept here as the third chapter.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters does the Mahalakshmi Vrat Katha have?
It has three chapters in total, the Brahmin's boon, the beginning of the Mahalakshmi Vrat, and the second story of Kunti and Gandhari, traditionally read or heard together.
When does the Mahalakshmi Vrat begin?
This vow begins on Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami and continues for sixteen days, being completed on the final day with an offering of arghya to the moon.
How did the Brahmin recognize Devi Lakshmi?
Lord Vishnu had told the Brahmin that the woman who came to the temple every day to pat cow-dung cakes was Devi Lakshmi herself, based on this, the Brahmin recognized and invited her to his home.
What did Arjuna do in the second story of Kunti?
When Gandhari did not invite Kunti to the Mahalakshmi worship, Arjuna, to ease his mother's sorrow, went to Lord Indra and brought back the elephant Airavata for her worship, allowing Kunti to complete the rites in due order.