Haritalika Vrat is yet another significant Vrat. Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) holds a vital part in the life of married women. Married women observe fast on this day for the long life of their beloved husbands & the well-being of their family members. Married women celebrate the festival of Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) with great devotion, faith & dedication to protect their unbroken good fortune with their husbands. This day is celebrated on the third day of the bright fortnight of the Bhadrapada month (भाद्रपदः शुक्लपक्षे तृतीया).
As this day is celebrated on the third day, this day is also known as Teej (third day) or Haritalika Teej or Haritalika Trutiya. This day is also known as Kevda Trij in Gujarat as a Ketaki flower (umbrella tree flower or screw pine) is offered to Bhagwan Shiva on this day only. Just like Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्), women observe fast for the wellbeing & long life of their husbands.
This day has a special significance of worshiping Bhagwan Shiva & Goddess Parvati. This Vrat (व्रतम्) is observed by married as well as unmarried women. Married women observe this fast for the log life & good fortune of their husbands & unmarried women observe this fast for the attainment of the desired husband. This Vrat (व्रतम्) is widely celebrated in the states like Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat & some parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Significance of Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) –
As Haritalika Vrat is also known by the name Kevda Trij or Teej, this is the special day when devotees offer Kevda flower to Bhagwan Shiva. Kevda is a flower which is also known as Ketaki flower. Ketaki flower is one of the favourite flowers of Bhagwan Shiva, but due to certain circumstances, this flower was cursed by Bhagwan Shiva & later boon is offered that it can only be offered on Kevda Trij or Teej. So, offering Ketaki flower on Shivaling on this day is the most significant ritual.
The Ketaki plant as a whole & the flower in particular, despite being cursed & excluded for worshipping is being widely used in one form or the other. Ketaki is a Sanskrit name, which is also known as Dhuli Pushpam in Sanksrit. The botanical name of this plant is Pandanus Odoratissimus. In English it is known as umbrella tree or screw pine.
Ketaki is a thickly branched shrub. It is rarely straight & is generally found along the coast of India & the Andaman Islands. The stem is usually up to 6 meters high. It is always supported by aerial roots. The tree is considered a good soil binder. Leaves are glaucous-green in colour & pointed. There are spines on margins & midriff of the leaves. Both male & female flowers are produced on different plants. The ancient Hindus called male plants as ketaki-viphala or dhuli pushpika. The female’s plants were known as sawarana ketaki. Male & female plants when together were called as ketaki dvayam (a pair of ketaki).
According to the Ayurveda, there are many uses of the Ketaki flower & plant. The fragrant flowers of Ketaki are used in making aromatic oils & perfumes. The flowers are also used to give flavour to the food. The tender leaves of Ketaki are eaten raw or cooked. The dry leaves are used for making mats, baskets & other such fancy items.
Ketaki flower holds a vital part in Hinduism, as it has many medicinal properties just like Banyan tree, Tulsi plant, etc. The oil & the fragrance of the plant is used to treat headache & joint pain. The roots are used as anti-septic & the juice obtained from the roots is used to cure wounds, ulcer, fever & leprosy. The stigma of the flower of Ketaki is processed into oil & that oil is used as a nasal drops to treat convulsions due to epilepsy. The root of the Ketaki is processed with coconut oil & that oil is used for the application on the scalp to treat alopecia & to improve the growth of hair. The paste prepared from the roots of the Ketaki is used to treat skin problems & to improve skin complexion. Root powder is used to treat diabetes or indigestion. Ketaki plant is also useful in treating main diseases like arthritis, heart diseases, cancer, alopecia, etc.
Now, speaking about the fasting & looking through the health perspective, fasting on this day plays a vital part. According to the Ayurveda, fasting is an ancient spiritual discipline that is very good for physical, mental & spiritual health. But, as this day falls during the Bhadrapada month, which is generally during the mid-monsoon season. So, fasting for a day in between such season, helps the metabolism to renew itself & triggering a detoxification process in the human body. Fasting during monsoon season, could lead to the release of the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is crucial to produce stem cells. These cells are the essential units of human metabolism working pretty much faster as the body’s repair department with their potential to regenerate & repair damaged tissues.
Fasting on this day also helps in producing new White Blood Cells (WBC), empowering immune system against the body’s external viruses. It also helps the centre of the nervous system function better. Similarly, fasting helps the brain to rest in a period when other organs of the human body, such as stomach are less in use.
So, through this we should understand that the festivals which are celebrated by observing fast has more scientific benefits which enhance the religious benefits. As according to the Scriptures, the fasting days are allotted according to the health benefits of the existing environment. Therefore, while women observe this fast for the wellbeing of their husbands, in a way they themselves are keeping their body healthy & increasing their own life span too. That is what such festivals suggest, that a married woman doesn’t ask for anything else than a long healthy life with her life partner.
Historical account of Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) –
There are two legends connected to this day. Firstly, as the name suggests Kevda Trij or Teej, there is a legend connected to this. According to the Shiva Purana, once Bhagwan Vishnu & Bhagwan Brahma started discussing about who is superior to whom. This discussion got heated & they started showing their powers to each other to prove themselves superior. Later, heated discussion turned into a huge fight for the same. At that moment a hug Linga appeared in between & a voice came from it that; whoever finds the end of this Linga will considered as the most superior. So, Bhagwan Vishnu went downward to reach the end & Bhagwan Brahma went upward. After going down & down, Bhagwan Vishnu was unable to reach to the end so he came back & understood that he had ego & no one is superior than anyone as everyone is best in their own field & so he apologizes to the Linga.
But, on the other hand; Bhagwan Brahma kept going upward as he was determined to find the end anyhow. Later, he saw a Ketaki flower falling from upward so, Bhagwan Brahma asked Ketaki flower that, has he seen the end of this Linga? To this, Ketaki flower said yes. So, Bhagwan Brahma asked Ketaki to be his false witness to which Ketaki flower agreed. Bhagwan Brahma came back & said that he found the end of the Linga & Ketaki flower is his witness. Bhagwan Shiva appeared in front of them & he got angry on Bhagwan Brahma for lying & cursed him that, from today onwards no one will worship him & there will not be any temple of him on the earth. Also, as the Ketaki flower was his false witness Bhagwan Shiva cursed him that, it will never be offered on Shivalinga. Later, Ketaki flower apologized & said he will never do such mistake again & so, Bhagwan Shiva allowed Ketaki to be offered on Shivalinga on the third day of the bright fortnight of the Bhadrapada month (भाद्रपदः शुक्लपक्षे तृतीया) only which will be known as Kevda Trij or Teej.
So, because of this reason, Ketaki flower is never offered to Bhagwan Shiva & it is offered on this day only.
There is yet another legend connected to this. As we know that this day is famously known as Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) & the legend is connected to this name. According to the Bhavishyottara Purana, once Bhagwan Shiva & Goddess Parvati were sitting at Mount Kailas playing board game & in the middle, Goddess Parvati remembered something & asked Bhagwan Shiva that she doesn’t remember what vow she did to attain Bhagwan Shiva as her life partner.
So, Bhagwan Shiva told that, after the death of Sati, she took birth as Parvati - a daughter of King of Himalaya - Himavan & since childhood, she had a love for Bhagwan Shiva & she wanted to marry Bhagwan Shiva. So, at the very young age, she started practicing penance. She did intense penance by eating only fruits, also by eating leaves only, during Margashirsha month she did penance in the water, staying in heat & performing penance during Vaishakha month & during Shravan month she left eating everything.
Knowing this, her father was worried that to whom he will get his daughter married as she was doing such an intense penance, who deserves her. At that moment Narada Muni arrived & said Bhagwan Vishnu send me here to request you to give your daughter to Bhagwan Vishnu as she will be the best for Bhagwan Vishnu. The king of Himalaya agreed to this as Bhagwan Vishnu was God & no one better than a God he could find for her daughter. King of Himalaya – Himavan went to Parvati & gave her this news. But Parvati wanted to marry Bhagwan Shiva so she got sad & went to her friend & started crying by explaining her wish of marring Bhagwan Shiva.
To this, her friend had an idea that they should go to the forest where no one can find her & Goddess Parvati accepted the idea & both of them went to the forest. There was a cave near the bank of the river, they went in. As Goddess Parvati was not happy since morning, she had not eaten anything. In that cave she builds a Shivalinga with clay & worshipped the Shivalinga by offering Bilva Patra, Ketaki flower, thorn apple (Dhatura), other wild flowers & leaves. She worshipped that Shivling for the whole night. That day was the third day of the bright fortnight of the Bhadrapada month (भाद्रपदः शुक्लपक्षे तृतीया) & it was Hastha Nakshatra. Through this worship Bhagwan Shiva got pleased & appeared in fort of Goddess Parvati & told to ask for a boon.
Goddess Parvati asked that if she did this puja ritual with true faith, then please accept me as your life partner & marry me; to this Bhagwan Shiva said let it be so & went away. On the other hand, King Himavan was searching for her & in the next morning Goddess Parvati did parna with her friend & immersed the Shivalinga made up of clay into the river. Later, king Himavan found Goddess Parvati & Goddess Parvati explained her wish of marring Bhagwna Shiva, king Himavan agreed to it & later Bhagwan Shiva & Godddess Parvati got married.
As the friend of Goddess Parvati took her into the forest, this Vrat got famous by the name Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) where Harita (हरित) means abduction (kidnaping) & Aali (आलि) means a friend, so Goddess Parvati was abducted (kidnapped) by her friend on this day, this day got famous by the name Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्).
Ritual ceremony of Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) –
This Vrat (व्रतम्) can be performed by both married women as well as non-married girls. Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) is a Hindu festival where married women observe fast for the long life of their husbands. Similarly, this fast is also considered important for non-married girls. Non-married girls perform this Vrat (व्रतम्) to get a suitable groom. According to the scriptures, the one who starts this fast has to do this fast till she dies. Means no one cannot skip this fast midway.
On this day women wake up early in the morning, wear new clothes & adorn themselves with different jewelleries. An idol of Bhagwan Ganesha & Goddess Parvati & a Shivalinga is made out of clay & worshipped. Sometimes women gather & make these idols & worship together. These idols are worshipped with Five worshipping practices (पञ्चः उपचारः) or by 16 worshipping practices (षोडश उपचारः). First the idol of Bhagwan Ganesha is worshipped by offering red turmeric powder, flowers, durva, etc. Later Shivalinga is worshipped by offering different kind of flowers, especially ketaki flower (kevda), thorn apple (dhatura), bilva patra & other wild leaves are offered. Corn, sponge gourd (Galka), ridge gourd (turiya), bitter melon (karela), okra (bhindi), ivy gourd (tindora), pointed gourd (parvar), such five to seven vegetables are tied in two pairs with a string & offered to Shivalinga made up of clay. After this, the idol of Goddess Parvati is worshipped by offering sixteen types of decorating items like Kumkum, bindi, saree, bangles, mangalsutra, payal, etc.
Later, fruits & sweets are offered to all the three Deities & aarti is done. At the end listening to the Vrat katha (व्रतकथा) is very important. Vrat katha (व्रतकथा) means a story of keeping the vow which is the legend of Goddess Parvati & Bhagwan Shiva & that story is already provided in this article in the historical account section. After listening or reading to the Vrat katha (व्रतकथा), women pray for the long, healthy & happy life of their husbands & for the healthy & prosperous life for the family too.
After the puja ritual & Vrat katha (व्रतकथा) is heard, the women gather around & sing bhajans, stotras & shlokas of Bhagwan Shiva & Goddess Parvati. Especially Ardhanarishwar stotra is recited on this day. Thereafter, food grains & utensils are gifted to the Brahmin & saree, bindi, payal, etc are gifted to the wife of the Brahmin. Women engage themselves in prayers & bhajans on this day till night & on the next day they do Parna by preparing full meal, offer to the idols made of clay. The idols are then immersed into the river or pond. Later the food is offered to the Brahmin & then eat it themselves.
The ritual ceremony may vary from region to region. As according to the other regions like in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar & such regions, women wake up around 2:3-3am & eat sargi just like Kadva Chauth & fasts for a day without drinking water or eating any fruit or anything & on the next day Parna is done as stated above.
As per the scriptures, the women observing this Vrat (व्रतम्) get rid of all kinds of sins & even after seven births she attains the unbroken bond with her life partner. Also, the fruits which are obtained by performing thousands Ashwamedha Yajna & Vajpeya Yajna is obtained by performing this Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) & by listening to this Vrat Katha (व्रतकथा).
Thus, women celebrate Haritalika Vrat (हरितालिका व्रतम्) with immense joy & dedication. As Goddess Parvati performed the rituals & observed fast on this day & she obtained Bhagwan Shiva as her life partner so, women observe fast to get the long life of their life partner. This is not just a festival or any other general fasting day but, this day increases love, bond, prosperity & happiness of the couple & their family. Also, this is yet another festival, which is not just a mere religious belief, but it has its connection with the spiritual as well as scientific reasons.
अश्विनः कृष्णपक्षे ०८, २०७८