Second Mangala Gauri Fast Story

Once upon a time, a wealthy merchant lived with his wife in a small village. Though they were financially prosperous, they were sad because they had no children. Their longing for a child always troubled them. One day, a sage visited their home. The merchant welcomed him and shared their sorrow. The sage advised the merchant's wife to observe the Mangala Gauri fast every Tuesday in the month of Sawan. He also explained the ritual and procedure for the fast. Following his advice, the merchant's wife began observing the fast every Tuesday with devotion and continued it for several months. Pleased by her dedication, Goddess Parvati requested Lord Shiva to bless the couple with a child. That night, in a dream, the merchant saw a divine being who told him to pluck a mango from a tree under which Lord Ganesh's idol was placed. He was instructed to feed the mango to his wife to receive the blessing of a child. The next morning, the merchant shared the dream with his wife and went searching for the mango tree. After some time, he found the tree with Lord Ganesh's idol beneath it. He threw stones to pluck a mango, but accidentally struck the idol. This angered Lord Ganesh, who appeared and cursed the merchant. Ganesh said, "You will be blessed with a child, but your selfish act has hurt me, so your child will live only until the age of 21." The merchant returned home frightened and fed the mango to his wife without revealing the incident. Soon, with the blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, they were blessed with a son. Though happy, the merchant remained worried about his son's short life. As the years passed, their son Amar grew up and began assisting his father in business. One day, while sitting by a pond under a tree, the merchant overheard two young women discussing the Mangala Gauri fast. Inspired by their conversation, he decided that one of the women would make a suitable bride for his son due to her devotion. He approached the father of one of the women, Kamala, and proposed the marriage. Kamala and Amar were married, and Kamala continued observing the Mangala Gauri fast faithfully. Pleased with her devotion, Goddess Parvati appeared in Kamala’s dream and warned her that a snake would come to take her husband's life on a Tuesday. She instructed Kamala to keep a bowl of sweet milk and an empty pot nearby. When the snake entered the pot after drinking the milk, Kamala was to cover it with a cloth. The following Tuesday, Kamala followed Parvati's instructions. The snake drank the milk, entered the pot, and Kamala securely covered it. She placed the pot in the forest, saving her husband's life. By the grace of Goddess Parvati, Amar was freed from the curse, and Kamala shared the miraculous event with her family. The merchant and his wife blessed the couple, and the family lived happily ever after. The Mangala Gauri fast is thus believed to bring happiness and prosperity to families. May Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati bring blessings and joy to your family.