Shukravar Vrat or Friday Fast is considered to be one of the most important fasting practices in Hinduism, observed mostly by women to seek the blessings of Maa Santoshi. As per the Puranas, Maa Santoshi is often known to be the Goddess of happiness and contentment. She’s considered to be the softest and least fierce form of Goddess Durga. She’s the daughter of Lord Ganesha and Riddhi-Siddhi Devi. The Shukravar Vrat or Friday Fast is also dedicated to the planet Venus which is the brightest planet in the solar system. Thus, this Vrat is very popular in India and it is believed that people who observe this fast get all their wishes fulfilled and Maa Santoshi always protects her Devotees from Evil Eyes and Negative forces with her Trishul in her right hand and sword in her left.
Significance of Friday Fast
- Observing the Shukravar Vrat and chanting “Jai Maa Santoshi” for 108 times helps in giving happiness and peace of mind to the devotees. It also helps in warding off evil eyes and gives the confidence to fight the negative forces in life.
- According to Hindu Puranas, observing this fast and reading the Shukravar Vrat Katha attracts riches, wealth and financial stability. It also helps the devotees in finding a good life partner and living a blissful life.
- It is believed that observing the Friday Fast for 16 consecutive Fridays leads to the destruction of all kinds of sorrows, sufferings and difficulties in life. The devotees get blessed with happy life with healthy progeny.
- Observing the Shukravar Vrat and worshipping the planet Venus on Friday helps the devotees to get rid of the malefic effects of Venus from the horoscope.
Attract health and wealth with Shukra Graha Shanti Puja
Shukravar Vrat Fasting Method
In Hinduism, most women devotees observe fast on Fridays to pay their honour and respect to Mata Santoshi. The devotees can begin a Shukravar Vrat on any Friday of the Shukla Paksha of any lunar month with a vow to continue it for 16 consecutive Fridays without fail or hindrances.
- The most important rule for this Vrat is that the devotees should not consume anything sour on this day. Consuming meat, onion and garlic are also prohibited on this day.
- Wake up before the sunrise, take a holy bath and wear fresh clothes.
- Clean the puja space and sprinkle Gangajal in all corners of your house to purify the atmosphere.
- Then place an idol or picture of Mata Santoshi in a proper place and decorate the space around it.
- Place an oil lamp and incense sticks. Then fill a Kalash (earthen pot) with water and some mango leaves and coconut on top of it.
- Offer a bowl filled with jaggery, roasted chickpeas and bananas as bhog to the goddess.
- Offer Haldi, Kumkum, flower garlands, red chunri, sandalwood and rice too.
- Then read the Shukravar Vrat Katha and Chant the mantras related to Maa Santoshi.
- Conclude the puja by performing the Aarti, offering flowers near the feet of the goddess and distributing the prasad among the devotees.
- People observing this Vrat can consume one meal on a fasting day.
- On the 16th Friday, known as the Udyapan day, perform the puja as per the rules and regulations and finally offer food and Dakshina to eight poor children to conclude the Vrat.
Do you know fasting brings in numerous benefits? Find out what are they.
Shukravar Vrat Katha
Once upon a time, there lived an old woman with her 7 sons in a small village. Her youngest son was extremely irresponsible and used to spend his time doing nothing fruitful. Therefore, the old woman used to serve him the meals left over by the other brothers. The wife of the youngest son, named Gita, used to see this and get very disappointed. Once she told her husband about this and asked him to earn some money so that his mother would respect him. The son felt sorry for himself and his wife after knowing this and left the house overnight to search for work and seek good fortune. Within some months he acquired a job with a merchant and became very rich with his hard work but he forgot about his wife and never visited her.
Gita lived a very harsh life with a lot of mistreatment from her in-laws. Once she got to know about the 16 Shukravar Vrat and its benefits and vowed to observe the fast. She completed the Vrat successfully with utmost devotion. Pleased with her dedication, Mata Santoshi appeared in her husband’s dreams and told him about the plight and sufferings of his wife Gita. The husband realised his mistake, returned back home and started a separate life with his wife with a lot of money and prosperity. The residents of his village and nearby villages came to know about the entire story related to Shukravar Vrat and started observing the fast to please Mata Santoshi with full faith and devotion.
Also, learn about the Somvar Vrat Katha
Mantras for Friday Fast
|| Om shri santoshi mahamaye gajanandam dayini shukravar priye devi narayani namostute ||
|| Jai maa santoshye devi namo namah ||
|| Om shri gajodevoputriyay namah ||
|| Om sarvnivarnaay devibhuta namah ||
|| Om santoshi mahadevvye namah ||
|| Om sarvkaam falpradaaye namah ||
|| Om laliltaaye namah ||
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