Bhadrapada Purnima Story

Once in a town, there lived a Brahmin named Dhaneshwar with his wife, Rupvati, who was virtuous and devoted. However, their biggest sorrow was that they were childless, which caused them great worry. One day, a sage visited the town to collect alms. While the townsfolk offered donations, the sage repeatedly refused to accept anything from Rupvati. Curious and troubled, Dhaneshwar approached the sage and asked, “O revered sage, why do you not accept alms from my wife when you accept them from others? If we’ve committed any mistake, please forgive us.” The sage explained, “You are kind and generous, Brahmin, but I cannot accept your offerings because you are childless. Accepting alms from a couple without children is considered sinful and would lead to my downfall.” Hearing this, Dhaneshwar pleaded with the sage to suggest a solution for their sorrow. The sage responded, “You must worship Goddess Kali for 16 days with utmost devotion. If she is pleased, she will grant you the boon of a child.” Filled with hope, Dhaneshwar thanked the sage and informed his wife. Seeing a ray of hope, Dhaneshwar went to the forest to worship Goddess Kali. For 16 days, he prayed and fasted sincerely. Pleased with his devotion, Goddess Kali appeared in his dream and said, “Do not despair. I grant you the blessing of a son, but he will live only until the age of sixteen. If you and your wife observe the Purnima fast for 32 full moons, your son’s lifespan will be extended.” She further instructed, “You will see a mango tree nearby in the morning. Pluck a fruit from it and give it to your wife to eat. By Lord Shiva’s grace, she will conceive.” The next morning, Dhaneshwar found the mango tree laden with beautiful fruits. After several attempts, he couldn’t pluck the fruit until he prayed to Lord Ganesh. With Ganesh's blessing, he successfully plucked a fruit and gave it to his wife, who soon conceived. The couple lit lamps on every Purnima as instructed by the goddess. Eventually, Dhaneshwar’s wife gave birth to a beautiful son named Devidas. As he approached the age of sixteen, his parents grew anxious, remembering the goddess’s prophecy. They sent Devidas to study in Kashi with his maternal uncle, asking him to return in a year. During their travels, Devidas and his uncle stopped at a village where a wedding was underway. The groom, however, had become blind before the ceremony. The bride’s father requested Devidas to take the groom’s place for the wedding, offering wealth in return. Devidas married the bride and gave her a ring, explaining his situation. He told her to prepare a garden of flowers and keep watering it. If the flowers stayed fresh, he would still be alive; if they wilted, it would mean his death. Later, when Devidas turned sixteen, a snake attempted to bite him, but the protection from his parents’ Purnima fast prevented harm. Eventually, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati arrived as Devidas lay unconscious. Parvati reminded Shiva of the couple’s devotion and requested him to grant Devidas a longer life. Shiva revived Devidas, blessing him with continued life. In the village, Devidas’s wife saw the garden dry up but then bloom again, realizing her husband had been saved. Devidas returned home, and his family rejoiced at his survival. Since then, observing the Purnima fast and reading this story is believed to bring Lord Vishnu’s blessings, fulfilling desires and granting children to childless couples.