HINDU RELIGIONS & CULTURE KARVA CHOUTH FESTIVAL FOR MARRIED WOMEN...22 OCT 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Legend of Karwa Chauth The Story of Queen Veeravati A long long time ago, there lived a beautiful girl by the name of Veeravati. She was the only sister of her seven loving brothers, who was married to a king. On the occasion of the first Karva Chauth after her marriage, she went to her parents house. After sunrise, she observed a strict fast. However, the queen couldnt stand the rigors of fasting and was desperately waiting for the moon to rise. The seven brothers who loved her dearly, were very disturbed watching the distress of their sister and decided to end her fast by deceiving her. Then the brothers reflected a mirror through Pipal tree leaves. The sister, taken it as moon rise, broke the fast and took food. However, the moment the queen ate her dinner, she received the news that her husband, the king, was seriously ill. The queen rushed to her husbands palace and on the way, she met Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati. Parvati informed her that the king had died because the queen had broken her fast by watching a false moon. However, when the queen asked her for forgiveness, the goddess granted her the boon that the king would be revived. But to achieve this, she would have to undertake the Karva Chauth fast under strict rituals, then only her husband would come top life. Thus, by strictly following all the rituals of Karva chauth, queen Veeravati relivened her husband. The Legend of Mahabharata The belief in this fast and its associated rituals goes back to the pre-Mahabharata times. Draupadi, too, is said to have observed this fast. Once Arjun went to the Nilgiris for penance and the rest of the Pandavas faced many problems in his absence. Draupadi, out of desperation, remembered Lord Krishna and asked for help. Lord Krishna reminded her that on an earlier occasion, when Goddess Parvati had sought Lord Shivas guidance under similar circumstances, she had been advised to observe the fast of Karva Chauth. Draupadi followed the instructions and observed the fast with all its rituals. Consequently, the Pandavas were able to overcome their problems. On this day, fasting women listen to Karva Chauth legends with rapt attention. The Story of Satyavan and Savitri There is the story of the Satyavan and Savitri. When Lord Yama, came to procure Satyavans soul, Savitri begged him to grant him life. When he refused, she stopped eating and drinking and Yamraj finally relented. He granted her, her husbands life. To this day, Karva Chauth is celebrated with great faith and belief. The Legend of Karva According to another legend, a woman named Karva was deeply devoted to her husband. One day while bathing, he was caught by a crocodile. Karva came running and bound the crocodile with a cotton yarn. She then went to Yama, the Lord of the death, and requested him to send the offending crocodile to hell. When Yama refused, she threatened to curse him. Afraid of the power of a devoted wife, Yama readily accepted and sent the crocodile to Yamalok or hell, and blessed Karvas husband with long life. Origin and Significance The fast of Karwa Chauth is of particular importance to all Hindu married women in India. They believe that the festival ensures prosperity, longevity and well-being of their husbands. The origin of this festival was based on a very sweet and noble idea. Though this idea has lost its true sense as today the whole outlook of this festival has changed. In the ancient time, girls used to get married at a very early stage, and had to go and live with their in-laws in other villages. After marriage, if she faces any problem with her in-laws or her husband, she would have no one to talk to or seek support from. There used to be no telephones, buses and trains long ago. Her own parents and relatives would be quite far and unreachable. Thus the custom started that, at the time of marriage, when bride would reach her in-laws, she would befriend another woman there who would be her friend or sister for life. It would be like god-friends or god-sisters. Their friendship would be sanctified through a small Hindu ceremony right during the marriage. Once the bride and this woman had become god-friends or god-sisters, they would remain so all their lives and recognize the relation as such. They would also treat each other like real sisters. Later in life, if she faces any difficulty related to her husband or in-laws, she would be able to confidently talk or seek help from each other. Thus, Karwa Chauth was started to as a festival to celebrate this relationship between the once-brides and their god-friends (god-sisters). Fasting and praying for husband came later and is secondary. It was probably added, along with other mythical tales, to enhance the festival. The husband would always be associated with this festival, because the day of starting this holy friendship between two god-sisters was essentially the day of brides marriage to him. Thus, praying and fasting for him by his wife during a celebration of her relationship with the god-friend would be quite logical. Hence, the festival of Karwa Chauth was to renew and celebrate the relationship between god-friends (god-sisters). It had a tremendous social and cultural significance when world was not having the way to communicate and move around easily. Special Occasion For a Newly Wed Bride - First Karwa CHAUTH Karwa Chauth is a reflection of the rich Indian culture and value systems ingrained in the society. This is a ritual which is religiously followed by married women and more so those of north and north western India. This occasion is more important for all newly-wed couples. A newly married woman is made to feel very special by her relatives and immediate family members on this day. She is showered with blessings for a blissful married life and loads of Karva Chauth gifts. On the arrival of this festival, the market gets flooded with all the symbols that reflects the marriage status of a woman is in high demand such as jewelry, bangles, henna, sarees, lahenga-choli and many other traditional gifts. Karwa Chauth is a festival of great importance for all married women as it adds to a strong foundation of love and care a husband wife relationship. The festival is based upon the legendary story of a devoted wife, Karwa, and her efforts to save her husbands life. First Baya This is a present that every mother sends or personally gives to her daughter for her Karwachauth. It comprises of eatables like salted mathris, dry-fruits and some gifts which have a utility in the day to day functioning of a married life. The womans mother-in-law also presents gifts to all the members of her daughters family along with Baya. Some mothers also send utensils in the Baya which the daughter later distributes amongst women who join her in her first Karva Chauth Puja. First Sargi Also known as the pre-dawn meal, Sargi is a meal prepared by the mother-in-law for her daughter-in-law on Karvachauth. It is a token of best wishes and blessings for a successful married life given by a mother-in-law to the daughter-in-law. Karwa Chauth Gifts This is one tradition that follows after every other is done with. In the evening after completing all the rituals, the married women receives exquisite karwa chauth gifts from their husbands. In loving admiration of her day long Karwa Chauth fast, a husband presents his wife with Karva Chauth gifts. The gift that a woman receives on her first Karwa Chauth is generally grand and becomes a possession for lifetime. The day of Karwa Chauth develops a special kind of bond between the wife and her husband. HAVE A BLESSED KARVA CHATURTHI TO ALL MARRIED WOMEN... Very interestin
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 12:17:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015