Gayatri Vrat Katha – गायत्री व्रत

Gayatri Mata is considered the mother of the Vedas and the goddess of knowledge, light, and virtues. Worshipping her brings peace, prosperity, and spiritual progress to a person's life. Performing the Gayatri Mata Vrat with devotion and rules fulfills desires. Here is a description of Gayatri Mata Vrat, its story, and rules in Hindi.

Introduction

In Hinduism, Gayatri Vrat is considered an important fast. It is especially observed to obtain the grace of Gayatri Mata, for spiritual progress, and for purification of the mind. In the Vedas, the Gayatri Mantra is described as the essence, chanting which gives a person spiritual strength and mental peace.

Importance of Gayatri Vrat – गायत्री व्रत का महत्व

• This fast brings positive energy and spiritual awareness into a person's life.
• Chanting the Gayatri Mantra during this fast is especially beneficial.
• This fast is helpful in increasing intelligence, knowledge, and self-confidence.
• It removes negativity and provides purification of the mind to the person.

Rules of Gayatri Mata Vrat – गायत्री माता व्रत के नियम

1. Day of the Fast:
   • Gayatri Mata Vrat is performed on an auspicious date, full moon, or especially on Thursday.
   • Basant Panchami and Gayatri Jayanti are considered the most auspicious to start this fast.
2. Observance of the Fast:
   • The person observing the fast should take a bath in Brahma Muhurta.
   • Wear clean clothes and worship with a pure heart.
3. Food Rules:
   • Eat fruits or sattvic food throughout the day.
   • Do not eat tamasic food and sour substances on the day of the fast.
4. Worship Material:
   • Idol or picture of the goddess, yellow flowers, Akshat (rice), ghee lamp, Kumkum, turmeric, sandalwood, Panchamrit, and Naivedya.
   • Especially a Rudraksha rosary for chanting the Gayatri Mantra.
5. Worship Method:
   • Clean the worship place and install the idol of Goddess Gayatri.
   • Light incense and lamps and invoke the goddess.
   • Chant the Gayatri Mantra (at least 108 times).
   • Offer yellow flowers and Panchamrit to the goddess.
   • Perform Aarti and express your wishes.

Gayatri Mantra – गायत्री मंत्र

Chanting the Gayatri Mantra has special significance during the fast and in daily worship:

ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं । भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

• Chant this mantra 108 times with a Rudraksha rosary.
• Keep your mind focused while chanting and pray to the Mother.

Gayatri Vrat Katha – गायत्री व्रत कथा

Lord Shankar's marriage was fixed with Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas. The Himalayas invited all the gods, sages, and lovers to the wedding ceremony. On the auspicious day, everyone reached there. On the other hand, Lord Shankar came to the wedding venue with gods, sages, siddhas, and Shiva devotees. Himalayan Maina respectfully welcomed everyone and gave them blankets and lovingly treated everyone.

At the auspicious time, Parvatiji was decorated and seated on the altar. Brahma and Vishnu also placed Lord Shankar above all in the Vedas. Then the wedding ceremony began with chanting, the Himalayas and his wife Maina married their daughter Parvati. The Himalayas handed over Parvati's lotus flower to Shankar, at that time Lord Shankar performed a ritual that angered Mata Gayatri.

Prajapita Brahma broke the Indriyani-graha from Shankar's Leela. While wandering, after seeing the blood-colored leaves of Parvati's feet, he became lustful. Due to his youth, he became impotent. After some time Brahma came near Shuddhi and he repented a lot. Lord Vishnu accepted his repentance. He advised him to perform self-purification Yagya to rectify this mistake.

Now, to select a place for this Yagya, after taking the opinion of all the gods, a lotus was thrown from Brahmaloka to the earth and it fell in the holy Pushkar Tirth. The idea of performing Yagya in Pushkar Tirth came up. At this place, Vishwakarma, the architect of the gods, had built a beautiful city on the orders of Lord Vishnu.

A day was fixed for the Yagya. All the gods, sages, Gandharvas, and kings came. There, Brahmaji suddenly realized that the Yagya is not complete without a wife, so he empowered Khecharamuni and sent him immediately to Satyaloka to bring Savitriji. Khecharamuni went to Satyaloka. He bowed to Savitriji and told her everything about Brahmaji, then also said that he himself has come to punish her.

When Savitri came to know that Brahmaji had cursed her daughter Parvati, she became angry and refused to come to the Yagya, so Khecharamuni went to the Yagya alone. He told Brahmaji everything. Hearing this, Brahmaji became a little worried. He thought a lot about this and came up with a trick. He made an idol of Savitri from Darbha, installed it, and established the fire. But the husband and wife had to offer sacrifices in the Yagya Kund, at that time the idol of Darbha was not working, so he sent Khecharamuni to Satyaloka again.

When Savitriji came to know that Brahmaji had installed an idol of Darbha in her place, she became very angry and refused to come. When Savitriji did not come, Brahmaji made a C to complete the Yagya which was started in haste and appeared, she is Mother Gayatri. In this way, by seating Gayatri next to him, he carried forward the Yagya work.

On the other hand, when Savitriji came to know that Brahmaji had started the work of Yagya in the lifeless idol of Darbha, she reached the Yagya site filled with anger. At that time, Lord Vishnu honored Savitriji and asked her to remove her anger. Savitriji's anger subsided due to the humble request of Lord Vishnu. She took her seat on the left side of Brahmaji. In this way, Savitriji, Brahmaji, and Gayatri together completed the Yagya work without any hindrance.

When the Yagya was over, Brahmaji gifted a golden idol to the Brahmins. Savitriji was seated on the left side and Gayatriji was seated on the right side in that idol.

In this way, Gayatri Mata appeared in Pushkar. The Brahmins built a beautiful temple on the banks of Tirthraj Pushkar Lake and installed this idol in it.

End of the Vrat – व्रत का समापन

• Feed 11 Brahmins at the end of the fast.
• Donate clothes, food, and money to the needy.
• After the Aarti of Gayatri Mata, distribute turmeric-sandalwood and Prasad to everyone.