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The holy festival of Hartalika Teej is considered one of the biggest and important fasts of the year for married women, in which Mother Parvati and Lord Shiva are worshiped with rituals. On this special day, women observe Nirja fast to pray for their husband’s long life, unbroken good fortune and happy married life. According to religious beliefs, observing this fast removes all kinds of obstacles in married life and brings happiness and prosperity in the family. The mythological story related to this fast has great importance, which every fasting woman must listen or read during the puja.
#Hartalika Teej fast story and its mythological significance
According to the legend, Mother Parvati had performed rigorous penance in the dense forest to get Lord Shiva as her husband. He had given up food and water and meditated by eating only dry leaves, due to which his condition had become very critical. Mother Parvati’s father Himalaya was very worried after seeing this difficult penance of his daughter and he wanted to arrange her marriage with Lord Vishnu. When Mother Parvati came to know about this, she discussed it with her friends and narrated her grief. After this her friends took her to a secret and dense forest so that her father could not find her. On the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month, in Hasta Nakshatra, Mother Parvati created a Shivalinga from sand and worshiped Lord Shiva while staying awake the whole night. Pleased with her rigorous penance and steadfast devotion, Bholenath appeared and gave her the boon of accepting her as his wife.
#Lord Shiva told Mother Parvati the full benefits of fasting
During the story of this fast, when Mother Parvati asked Lord Shiva about the fruits and importance of this fast, Bholenath explained its benefits in detail. Lord Shiva clarified that any married woman or girl who observes the fast of Hartalika Teej with full devotion, devotion and rituals, gets unbroken good fortune. Shivji told that women who observe this fast get all kinds of material happiness and opulence in this world and in the end they get a place in Shivlok. Lord Shiva also said that due to the effect of this fast, the mutual love and trust between husband and wife always remains unbroken and there is never any trouble or shortage of money and grains in the family. By observing this fast, the sins committed unknowingly are also destroyed and positive energy is infused in life.
#What things should be paid special attention to during the fast?
The fast of Hartalika Teej is considered more difficult than other fasts because along with food, water is also sacrificed. According to the rules of the fast, once the fast is started, it cannot be left midway. It has to be continued every year with complete discipline. At the time of worship, in the evening during Pradosh period, Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva should be worshiped in the Shodashopachar method. Along with this, keeping vigil at night and singing bhajans and kirtans are considered to be the main parts of this fast. The next day, after sunrise, after taking bath and completing the puja, the fasting women should break their fast by consuming food and water.