Maa Annapurna Vrat: Significance and Rituals

Mother Annapurna Mata's Mahavrat begins from the Krishna Paksha Panchami of the month of Margashirsha and ends on Margashirsha Shukla Shashti. This excellent fast lasts for seventeen days and many devotees observe it for 21 days as well.

Story of Maa Annapurna Mata's Mahavrat

Once upon a time, there lived a man named Dhananjay in Kashi, whose wife's name was Sulakshana. She had all other comforts, only poverty was the sole cause of her sorrow. This sorrow tormented her all the time.

One day Sulakshana said to her husband, "Swami! You should make some effort so that things can work out. How long will things go on like this?"

Sulakshana's words settled in Dhananjay's mind and he sat down that very day to please Vishwanath Shankar Ji and began to say, "O Lord of Gods, Vishweshwar! I don't know any worship or rituals, I am sitting here only relying on you." Saying this much, he sat hungry and thirsty for two-three days. Seeing this, Lord Shankar said in his ear, "Annapurna! Annapurna! Annapurna!"

Who was this, what did he say? Dhananjay was lost in this thought and seeing the Brahmins coming from the temple, he started asking, "Panditji! Who is Annapurna?"

The Brahmins said, "You have given up food, so you are only thinking about food. Go home and eat." Dhananjay went home,
told his wife everything, she said, "Nath! Don't worry, Shankarji himself has given this mantra. He himself will reveal it. You go and worship him again." Dhananjay sat in worship again as before. At night, Shankar Ji commanded and said, "Go to the east."

He kept chanting the name of Annapurna and eating fruits on the way, drinking water from the springs. He kept walking like this for many days. There he saw the silver-shining beauty of the forest. He saw a beautiful lake, on the banks of which many nymphs were sitting in groups. They were listening to a story and all together kept saying "Mother Annapurna" again and again.

It was the bright night of the month of Agahan (Margashirsha) and the fast was starting from today. The word he had set out to find, he heard it there.

Dhananjay went to them and asked, "O Goddesses! What are you doing?"
They all said, "We are all observing the fast of Mother Annapurna."

Dhananjay asked, "What happens by observing the fast, by worshiping? Has anyone done it before? When should it be done? What kind of fast is it and what is the method? Please tell me in detail."

They began to say, "Anyone can do this fast. For twenty-one days, one should take a thread with 21 knots. If 21 days are not possible, then fast for one day, if that is also not possible, then only listen to the story and take Prasad. Tell the story while remaining without food, if there is no one to listen to the story, then keep peepal leaves and face the betel nut or aloe vera (guarpatha) tree, make the lamp a witness and do not put food in your mouth without telling the story to the sun, cow, tulsi or Mahadev. If something falls by mistake, then fast again for one day. Do not be angry and do not lie on the day of the fast."

Dhananjay said, "What will happen by doing this fast?"
They began to say, "By doing this, the blind get eyes, the lame get hands, the poor get wealth, the barren get children, the foolish get knowledge, Mother fulfills the wishes of whoever observes the fast with whatever desire."
He said, "Sisters! I also do not have wealth, I do not have knowledge, I do not have anything, I am a poor Brahmin, will you give me the thread of this fast?"

Yes brother, may you be blessed, we will definitely give you, take this auspicious thread of the fast. Dhananjay observed the fast. When the fast was completed, a golden staircase of 21 sections studded with diamonds and pearls appeared from the lake. Dhananjay kept saying "Jai Annapurna Annapurna". In this way, after descending many stairs, he saw that there was a temple of Annapurna, radiant with crores of suns, in front of which Mother Annapurna was seated on a golden throne. Lord Shankar is standing in front for alms. The goddesses are waving chawars. Many are guarding with weapons.

Dhananjay ran and fell at the feet of Jagadamba. The Goddess knew the pain in his mind.
Dhananjay began to say, "Mother! You are the knower of all hearts. What should I tell you about my condition?"
The Mother said, "You have observed my fast, go, the world will respect you." The Mother wrote the seed mantra on Dhananjay's tongue. Now knowledge manifested in every pore of his body. In a moment, he saw that he was standing in the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Taking the Mother's blessing, Dhananjay came home. He told Sulakshana everything. By the grace of Mataji, wealth started overflowing in his house. The small house began to be considered very big. Just as bees gather in a honeycomb, in the same way many relatives came and started praising him.
They began to say, "If there is so much wealth and such a big house, beautiful children, then who will enjoy this earning? Sulakshana does not have children, so you should marry another woman."

Unwillingly, Dhananjay had to marry another woman and the virtuous Sulakshana had to suffer the sorrow of a co-wife. In this way, the days passed and then the month of Agahan came. Sulakshana told her husband, who was bound by a new bond, that we have become happy due to the effect of the fast. Therefore, this fast should not be abandoned. This is the glory of Mataji. That we are so prosperous and happy. Hearing Sulakshana's words, Dhananjay came to her place and sat down for the fast.

The new bride did not know about this fast. She was waiting for Dhananjay to come. Days passed and there were three days left for the fast to be completed when the new bride found out. The flame of jealousy started burning in her mind. She reached Sulakshana's house and created a commotion there.

She took Dhananjay with her, Dhananjay fell asleep for a while in the new house. At the same time, the new bride broke his fast thread and threw it into the fire. Now the Mother's wrath was awakened. Suddenly a fire broke out in the house, everything was burnt to ashes. Sulakshana understood and brought her husband back to her house. The new bride got angry and went to her father's house.

Sulakshana, who considered her husband as God, said, "Nath! Don't worry. Mataji's grace is supernatural. A son may be a bad son, but a mother is never a bad mother. Now you start worshiping with faith and devotion. She will definitely bless us." Dhananjay again followed the Mother. Again the same lake staircase appeared, saying "Mother Annapurna" he descended into it. There he went and started crying at the feet of Mataji.

The Mother was pleased and said, "Take this golden idol of mine, worship it, you will be happy again, go, you have my blessings. Your wife Sulakshana has observed my fast with faith, I have given her a son." Dhananjay opened his eyes and found himself standing in the Kashi Vishwanath temple. From there he came home in the same way. Here, Sulakshana's days were approaching and a son was born as the months passed. A wave of surprise ran through the village.

In this way, when the childless Seth of the same village had a son, he built a temple of Mother Annapurna, in which Mataji arrived with great pomp, performed a yagna and gave Dhananjay the post of Acharya of the temple. For livelihood, he gave the donation of the temple and a very beautiful building to live in. Dhananjay started living there with his wife and son. The temple started getting a lot of income in offerings. On the other hand, the new bride's father's house was robbed, everything was looted, they started begging to fill their stomachs. When Sulakshana heard this, she sent for them, kept them in a separate house and arranged for their food and clothing.

Dhananjay, Sulakshana and her son started living happily by the grace of Mataji. May Mataji fill everyone's storehouses as she filled theirs.