Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha | Legend of Kojagara Puja

Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha

A Brahmin named Valit lived in the country of Magadha. Although he was rich in much knowledge and used to perform Sandhya Snana daily, but financially he was very poor. If someone came to donate something to him at home, he would accept it, otherwise he would not go to ask for anything from anyone. The more gentlemanly a Brahmin he was, the eviller and more discordant his wife was. She used to complain every day about the fact that her sister was married into a rich family, and she roamed around adorned with gold and silver jewelry. The Brahmin's wife despised her husband's family and education even among other people and took a vow that, until he became rich, she would do everything contrary to her husband's orders.

One day she asked her husband to steal money from the king and threatened to beat him if he did not do so. That evil woman started tormenting Valit in various ways. Sometimes she would suddenly start crying, sometimes she would give up food, sometimes she would consume too much food and sometimes she would start banging her head, but that Brahmin considered it better to tolerate the torture of that woman rather than begging from anyone. He never said anything to his wife and was satisfied with whatever he got.

Once it was the time of Shraddha Paksha and all the materials required for Shraddha were available in the house, but the Brahmin was worried that his wife would not allow him to perform Shraddha rituals at home and would quarrel. While he was thinking all this in his mind, one of his friends came there and asked Valit the reason for his worry. Valit told his friend the whole dilemma. After hearing the whole thing, his friend said happily that this is not a problem at all. If your wife does the opposite of what you say, then you ask her to do the opposite of whatever you want her to do, then your problem will be solved. On hearing this, Brahmin Valit became happy and said, you are right, I should do the same.

The Brahmin came to his house in the evening and said to his wife, O Chandi! The day after tomorrow is my father's Shraddha, but he did not leave any kind of wealth etc. for me, due to which today I have to suffer this poverty. Therefore, do not make any arrangements for his Shraddha and even if you do, invite Brahmins of bad character and gamblers. He again told his wife not to invite the great Brahmins.

Hearing the words of the Brahmin, his wife started preparations to do the opposite to his statement. He cooked various types of dishes and invited the best Brahmins of the city. In order to contradict her husband's statement, the wife performed the Shraddha as per the rituals. At the end of Shraddha, after offering Pinda Daan, the Brahmin said to his wife that you have forgotten to immerse the Pindas in the river Ganga. On hearing this, his wife threw the Pindas into the toilet well. This incident deeply hurt Valit's heart and he left his house in extreme anger with a resolve to please Goddess Lakshmi. He took a vow that unless Goddess Lakshmi blesses him, he will live in a deserted forest and eat only tubers and roots and will not return home. To please Goddess Lakshmi, he sat on the banks of river Dharma for thirty days and in the meantime the full moon of Ashwin month arrived.

In that forest, the daughters of Kaliya Nag's clan were fasting to please Goddess Lakshmi. They were wearing beautiful and clean clothes and his residence was shining white colour. The Nag Kanya(s) worshiped Goddess Lakshmi with devotion by offering Panchamrita, gems and mirrors etc. The first half was spent in worship and then preparations were made for gambling, but four people were required to play gambling on Chausar and they could not find a fourth partner. While They were searching for the fourth person in the forest, their eyes fell on a young Brahmin sitting on the riverbank, who appeared to her to be a gentleman from his facial features. Nag Kanya(s) asked him who are you? Please come and gamble with us to appease Goddess Lakshmi.

The Brahmin replied, what kind of unfair thing you are saying, gambling leads to loss of wealth and destruction of religion. The girl said, you speak like a learned man, but your thoughts are like a fool. Saying this, They took the Brahmin with them to the temple and provided him Prasad and coconut water. After that, saying 'May Goddess Lakshmi be pleased', they started gambling with the Brahmin.

First of all the Nag Kanya(s) put priceless gems at stake, but the Brahmin did not have anything, hence first he put his loincloth at stake which he lost. After that he put his Yajnopavita at stake but the Nag Kanya(s) won that too. Now having nothing else, the Brahmin put his own body at stake. Meanwhile, it was midnight and Goddess Lakshmi passed by while traveling in the world with Lord Shri Narayana. While travelling, he saw that a Brahmin was sitting surrounded by extreme worry and despair, devoid of cloths and Yajnopavita. Seeing this scene, Lord Vishnu said to Lakshmi Ji, why is the Brahmin who observes your fast in such a plight? Please relieve the suffering of your devotee and grant him wealth, prosperity and happiness.

On hearing this, Goddess Lakshmi showered Her blessings on the Brahmin and destroyed all his poverty. As soon as Lakshmi Ji blessed him, the form of the Brahmin became like Kamadeva, captivating women. Seeing this beautiful form of his, the Nag Kanya(s) said to him, O Vipravar, we have won you, hence now you become our husband and work according to us. The Brahmin gladly accepted this proposal. The Brahmin married all the girls as per Gandharva Vivah and returned to his home with various types of gems.

On reaching back home, the Brahmin believed that his fate had changed only because of his wife's disrespect and contempt. The Brahmin respected his wife due to which she became very happy and started following her husband's orders. With the effect of this fast, all the problems of Valit Brahmin ended and he became happy and prosperous in every way.

In this way, the story of Kojagara Vrat is completed, by listening to this story properly, the result of the fast is also obtained.

Kojagari Puja Method / How to perform Kojagari Puja?

According to Shri Vratraj, Kojagar Puja rituals are as follows -

• Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is seated on an elephant, should be worshipped.
• Fast with devotion and donate lamps on this day.
• Light one lakh, fifty thousand, one crore or one hundred Ghee or sesame lamps as per your capacity.
• Keep vigil in the night with dance and music.
• Light lamps as per your capacity in the streets of the city, in temples, gardens and at home.
• Organize a feast of milk, Ghee and sugar for Brahmins.
• Worship a thousand Brahmins with clothes and Dakshina and break the fast by giving them gold lamps as per capacity.

(In this way the Kojagara Vrat described in Shri Sanatkumar Samhita is completed.)