Curse & boon stories : Gan-Gaur Vrat festival in Indian mythology associated with Shiv & Parvati

The Gan-Gaur Vrat, this fast is observed on the third day of the bright fortnight of the Chaitra month. On this day, fortunate women observe the fast. It is said that on this day Parvati received the boon of being fortunate from Lord Shankar and Parvati bestowed the boon of being fortunate upon other women. During worship, there is a special provision to make a Gaur of Renuka and apply turmeric and vermilion on it. After worshiping with sandalwood, rice grains, incense sticks, lamps, and offering bhog, married women should apply sindoor to the Gaur in their hair parting.

Story: Once Lord Shankar, along with Parvati and Narad, set out for a pilgrimage. While traveling, they reached a village on the third day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra. Upon hearing of their arrival, the poor women of the village quickly arrived with plates filled with turmeric and rice grains for worship. Understanding their worshipful sentiments, Parvati showered them all with her grace. They obtained unwavering fortune. After some time, the wealthy women distributed various delicacies and the essence of fortune only to the poor women. Now what should these women give them?" Parvati said, "Lord! These women have been given the essence made from the upper substances. Therefore, their essence will remain with the wash. But I will tear my finger and give them the essence of blood, which will make them as fortunate as me." When these women completed the worship, Parvati tore her finger and sprinkled the blood on them. As the drops fell, they obtained the same fortune.

After that, Parvati went to bathe in the river with the permission of her husband, Lord Shankar. After bathing, she made a Shivling out of the sand and worshiped it. She offered bhog, circumambulated, and took the prasad of two grains on her forehead. At that moment, the divine linga of Shiva appeared and gave Parvati a boon, "Today, any woman who worships me and observes your fast will have a husband who will live forever and will attain salvation." With this boon, Lord Shiva disappeared.

While doing all this, Parvati took quite some time. Parvati came to the place leaving Lord Shankar and Narad behind. When Shiv asked her the reason for coming late, Parvati said, "My brothers-in-law met me on the banks of the river. They urged me to have milk and rice and stay with them. That's why I got late in coming." Hearing this, Lord Shankar, too, lured by the desire to have milk and rice, set off towards the riverbank. Parvati prayed silently, "Lord, please keep the honor of this humble servant of yours." Praying thus, Parvati started following them. They saw a palace far away on the riverbank. There, Shiv's brother-in-law and sister-in-law welcomed Shiv-Parvati.

They stayed there for two days. On the third day, when Parvati asked Shiv to leave, Lord Shiva was not ready to leave. So, Parvati left alone, feeling upset. In such a situation, Lord Shiva had to go with Parvati. Naradji also went with them. While walking, Lord Shankar said, "I forgot my garland at your parents' house." When Parvati prepared to bring the garland, Lord Shankar sent Narad instead of her. But when Narad reached there, he did not see any palace. There were jungles everywhere. Suddenly lightning struck. Narad saw Shiv's garland hanging on a tree. Narad removed the garland and went to Shiv to tell him about the hardships of the journey. Shiv smiled and said, "This is all the play of Parvati."

Upon hearing this, Parvati said, "What am I capable of? This is all your grace." Upon learning this, Maharishi Narad praised the incident born from the influence of Mother Parvati and her devoutness. As far as hiding the worship by Parvati is concerned, it seems appropriate because worship should be done secretly. Since Parvati had hidden this fast, even today men are not present during worship on this occasion.

Hindi Roman :  Gan gaur Pooja ( गन गौर व्रत पूजा)

Gan-Gaur Vrat, yeh vrat Chaitra maas ke shukl paksh ki teejiya ko manaya jata hai. Is din saubhagyavati striyan vrat rakhti hain. Kahavat hai ki is din Parvati ne Bhagwan Shankar se saubhagyavati rahne ka vardaan prapt kiya tha aur Parvati ne anya striyon ko bhi saubhagyavati rahne ka vardaan diya tha. Pujan ke samay Renuka ki Gaur banakar us par mahavar aur sindoor chadhane ka vishesh pravdhan hai. Chandan, akshat, dhoopbatti, deep, naivedya se pujan karke bhog lagaya jata hai. Vivahit striyon ko Gaur par chadhaye sindoor ko apni maang mein lagana chahiye.

Katha: Ek baar Bhagwan Shankar, Parvati ji aur Naradji ke saath bhraman hetu chal diye. Ve chalte-chalte Chaitra shukl teejiya ko ek gaon mein pahunchen. Unka aana sunkar graam ki nirdhan striyan unke swagat ke liye thaliyon mein haldi akshat lekar pujan hetu turant pahunch gayi. Parvati ji ne unke pujan bhav ko samajhkar saara suhaag-ras un par chhidak diya. Ve atal suhaag praapt kar lautin. Dhani varg ki striyan thodi der baad anek prakaar ke pakwan suhaag ras to nirdhan varg ki striyon ko hi de diya. Ab inhe kya dogi?"

Parvati ji boli - "Prannath! Un striyon ko oopri padarthon se bana ras diya hai. Isliye unka ras dhoti se rahega. Parantu mein in dhani varg ki striyon ko apni anguli cheerkar rakta ka suhaag ras doongi jo mere saman saubhagyavati ho jaayengi." Jab in striyon ne pujan samaapt kar liya tab Parvati ji ne apni anguli cheerkar us rakta ko unke upar chhidak diya. Jis par jaise cheente pade usne vaisa hi suhaag pa liya."

Iske baad Parvati ji ne apne pati Bhagwan Shankar se aajna lekar nadi mein snan karne chali gayi. Snan karne ke pashchat baloo ki Shivji ki moorti banakar pujan kiya. Bhog lagaya aur pradakshina karke do kano ka prasad khakar mastak par teeka lagaya. Usi samay us parthiv ling Shivji prakat hue aur Parvati ko vardaan diya - "Aaj ke din jo stri mera pujan aur tumhara vrat karegi uska pati chiranjivi rahega aur moksh ko praapt hoga." Bhagwan Shiv yeh vardaan dekar antardhaan ho gaye.

Itna sab karte-karte Parvati ji ko kaafi samay lag gaya. Parvati ji nadi ke tat se chal kar us sthaan par aayi jahan par Bhagwan Shankar aur Naradji ko chhodkar gayi thi. Shivji ne vilamb se aane ka kaaran poocha to is par Parvati ji boli, "Mere bhai-bhavaj nadi kinare mil gaye the. Unhone mujhse doodh-bhaat khane aur theherne ka aagrah kiya. Isi kaaran se aane mein der ho gayi." Aisa jaankar antaryaami Bhagwan Shankar bhi doodh-bhaat khane ke lalach mein nadi tat ki aur chal diye. Parvati ji ne maun bhav se Bhagwan Shivji ka hi dhyaan karke prarthana ki, "Bhagwan aap apni is anany dasi ki laaj rakhiye." Prarthana karte hue Parvati ji unke peechhe-peechhe chalne lagi. Unhe door nadi tat par maya ka mahal dikhaya gaya. Vahan mahal ke andar Shivji ke saale tatha sahalaj ne Shiv-Parvati ka swagat kiya.

Ve do din vahan rahe. Teesre din Parvati ji ne Shivji se chalne ke liye kaha to Bhagwan Shiv chalne ko taiyaar na huye. Tab Parvati ji ruthkar akeli hi chal di. Aisi paristhiti mein Bhagwan Shiv ko bhi Parvati ke saath chalna pada. Naradji bhi saath chal diye. Chalte-chalte Bhagwan Shankar bole, 'Main tumhare maayke mein apni mala bhool aaya hoon." Mala lane ke liye Parvati ji taiyaar hui to Bhagwan ne Parvati ji ko na bhejkar Naradji ko bheja. Par vahan pahunchne par Naradji ko koi mahal nazar nahin aaya. Vahan door-door tak jangal-hi-jangal tha. Sahasa bijlee kaunthi. Naradji ko Shivji ki mala ek ped par tangi dikhayi di. Naradji ne mala utaari aur Shivji ke paas pahunch kar yatra ka kasht batane lage. Shivji haskar kahne lage - "Yeh sab Parvati ki hi leela hai."

Is par Parvati ji boli - "Main kis yogya hoon. Yeh sab to aapki hi kripa hai." Aisa jaankar Maharshi Naradji ne Maa Parvati aur unke pativrata prabhaav se utpann ghatna ki mukht kanth se prashansa ki. Jahan tak unke dwara pujan ki baat ko chhupane ka prashn hai vah bhi uchit hi jaan padta hai kyonki pujan chhupakar hi karni chahiye. Chunancha Parvati ji ne is vrat ko chhupakar kiya tha usi parampara ke anusaar aaj bhi pujan ke avsar par purush upasthit nahin hote.