She is treated as the most calm, soft, pure and kind form of Goddess Durga. She is sitting on lotus which signifies that even in this world which is full of selfishness, rudeness and corruption goddess of satisfaction is still present in her devotee’s hearts. She resides on the lotus which is blossoming in the sea filled with milk which is a symbol of her purity signifying that where there is purity of heart and dedication there we will have our mother of satisfaction.
As it’s a general saying that if we will eat sweet things then our words will be as sweet as sugar, in the same manner maa Santoshi refrains all the sour things and symbolizes her devotes that by avoiding the sour things which are wrongs acts they can achieve the complete purity, happiness and satisfaction in their hearts.
Maa Santoshi not only provides purity and calmness, she also saves all her devotees from ill powers with her Sword in her left hand and Trishul in her right hand. As per the beliefs she is a four handed Goddess with only two hands visible to her devotees and other two with weapons like Sword and Trishul are only for the ones who play as the hurdles in the path of truth and goodness. Santoshi Maa is the most beautiful and lovable goddess who is always ready for blessing her followers and looking at her statue all the devotees forget their problems and feel as if they are lost in her beauty and calmness. Maa Santoshi is worshiped on Friday and it is believed that people get all their wishes fulfilled by worshipping Goddess Santoshi by keeping 16 consecutive fasts and following the strict rule of refraining from all the sour eatables
Rituals
On a Friday morning have head bath and place the photo in a clean Pooja area and put a small Kalash. Place Santhoshimatha’s photo and decorate it with flowers. Keep channa (soaked in water for 6 hours in water) or puffed bengal gram along with jaggery piece and bananas as prasadam. Light diya before the Goddess. Chant the mantras and read the story and give aarti to the Goddess and have prasadam. You can do fasting the entire day or can have food only once in a day (may be supper or dinner). You are not supposed to eat anything sour on the day of the Pooja…
You need to do this for 16 weeks on Friday, and after you finish the 16 weeks you will be required to do Udyapan, i.e. you will be required to offer food to kids and remember not to feed them anything sour and not to give them any cash, as they might use the cash to buy something sour.
Things required for the Pooja:
betel leaves
flowers
dry whole channa and jaggery for prasad
camphor for aarti
agarbatti
diyas
turmeric
kumkum
photo of santoshima
coconut for kalash (have to continue with the same coconut till you complete Pooja)
a wooden stool for placing the moorthi
rice mixed with turmeric
SANTOSHI MATA’S VARTH KATHA
ತೇರ್e was an old woman, she had seven sons. Six of them were 
working hard and one was lazy and not working. The old woman would make food and feed the six sons, whatever remnants were there she would serve the seventh son. The younger son was innocent and was not aware of this.
One day he told his wife – “See, how much my mother loves me?” She said – “Why not, she gives you the remnants of everyone to eat.” He said, “What, how can such a thing be? Till the eyes see, I cannot believe what you say. The wife laughed and said, ” Will you believe once you see yourself?”
After a few days there was a festival in the house. Seven types of food and laddoo [sweet dish] were prepared. To check out the truth he made an excuse of headache and went to the kitchen and laid down covering his face with a thin cloth, through which he was watching everything. The six brothers came into the kitchen for food. He saw his mother had spread beautiful seats for them and served them the seven varieties of foods. She was serving them the food with love. He kept on watching. The six brothers ate their food and got up. The mother took from their plates the leftovers and from the pieces of the ladoo, made a ladoo out of it.
After clearing the leftovers, the mother called out to the son- ” Get up son, the six brothers have eaten and gone. You are left, get up. When will you eat?” He started saying, “Mother I do not wish to have food. I am going out of the country.” The mother said, “If you are planning to go tomorrow go today.” He said, “Yes, Yes. I am going today only.”
Saying this he left the house. While leaving the house he remembered his wife. She was in the cow stable making cakes of cow-dung. He went there and said, “I am going away to another country for some time. You stay in peace and do your duty.” She said, ” Go in peace do not worry about me. I will stay in the care of Lord Rama, Lord be with you. Give me something of yours to remember, in all your worries and work do not forget me.”
He said, ” I have nothing, only this ring. You take this and give me something of yours as a remembrance.” She said, ” What do I have? I have only this hand full of cow-dung.” Saying thus she put her hands filled with the cow-dung as a mark on his back. And he went away.
T
hus walking and walking he reached a far land where he reached the shop of a merchant. Going there he said, ” Brother, keep me as your servant.” The merchant needed one so he asked him to stay. The boy asked him. “How much salary he would give?” The merchant replied, “You will be paid after I see how you work.”
He got the job from the merchant. He used to work from morning 7am to 2pm in the afternoon. In a few days, he managed the transactions, accounts, selling of the items to the customers and managed all the work. The merchant had seven to eight servants and they were all astonished. He was very intelligent. The businessman seeing his work made him his partner sharing 50% of the profits within 3 months. In 12 years he became a famous businessman and the owner left all the work on his shoulders and went out of the country.
Now what happened to the daughter-in-law, kindly listen?
The mother-in-law and father-in-law started troubling her a lot. The complete household burden was put on her and she was also sent to collect wood from the forest. During this time, the grain from which the rotis [chapathi] are made- the husk [bhoosa] was removed and the roti was made and kept for her and in the broken coconut shell water was kept. This way the days passed by.
One day, while when she was going to collect the wood on the way, she met many women who were doing the Santoshi Mata Vrat [fasting]. She stood there and heard the story, then she asked them, “Sisters, you are doing this fast for which God, and doing this fast-what fruit do you achieve? What are the rules to perform this fast? If you can explain to me the steps to perform the rituals of this fast I would be highly obliged to you.”
Then one of the women said to her, -“Listen, this is the vrat [fast] of Santoshi Mata. From this calamity, poverty is wiped out. Wealth comes in. All worries are removed. If there is happiness in the house, the mind is happy and peaceful. Barren woman begets a child. If the husband has gone out he will return immediately. Unmarried girls get their own choice of husbands. Court cases which are being on for long time would be resolved fast. If there are quarrels in the house, there will be peace and happiness, prosperity will be there in the house, money and land will be got, sickness would go away and thus whatever desire you have in the mind this Santoshi Mata’s blessings will fulfill them. There is no doubt about it.”
She then started asking, “How is this fast kept? Could you please explain to me? I would be very grateful to you.
”
The woman began explaining- “Buy 1 ¼ Anna jaggery and grams (olden days we had Anna’s and 16 Anna’s made a rupee). If you desire you can buy for 5 ¼ Anna’s or 1 ¼ rupee as per your capacity you can buy, without any botheration as per your devotion and love you should buy. Right from 1 ¼ paise to 5 ¼ Anna’s upto your capacity of strength and devotion you can buy. Every Friday, keep a fast – do not eat food and listen or read this story. There should be no break, continuously follow the rules and keep the fast. If you do not get anyone to listen to the story, then light a lamp with ghee or keep the vessel with water in front of you and read the story but see that the rule is broken. Continue till the results happen following the rules and performing the fast. On the fulfillment of the desire do the Udyapan (final day).
Within 3 months the mother fulfills the desire – in between if one’s stars (astrological) is not favorable, then too the mother fulfills the desire. On the fulfillment of the desire only should the Udyapan be done, not in between. On the Udyapan day one should make 2 ½ kg grounded cashew, kheer and gram curry. You must feed 8 boys with this food. As far as possible let the boys be from the close- immediate family members that is elder/younger broth-in-law’s son, relatives and family. If they are not there, then you can get other relatives or from the neighbor’s son can be invited. Give them food and as per your capacity give them gifts and complete the rules of the rituals of the Mata. On that day no one should eat sour items in the house.
After hearing this old woman’s daughter-in-law went away. On the way she sold the wood she had collected and with that money she purchased jaggery and grams and prepared for the Mata’s vrat (fast). Walking along she saw a temple and she started inquiring “Whose temple is this?” Everyone started saying, “This is the temple of Santoshi Mata (Mother).” Hearing this is the temple of the Mata she went in and fell at the feet of the Mother.
She started praying very sadly.
“Mother, I am an ignorant woman, I do not know the rules to perform this vrat. I am very unhappy. Hey Mother! Goddess of the world please remove my unhappiness, I have come to your shelter.”
Mother got compassion, one Friday passed and the next Friday somebody brought a letter from her husband and the third Friday she received the money sent by him. Seeing this, the elder brother-in-law and his wife made faces. In so many days so much money has come, what is so great? Boys started taunting her,”Money has started coming, now respect for Kaki (brother’s wife) will increase, brother!”
“Letter comes, money comes it is good for all of us.” Saying thus with eyes full of tears she went to the Santoshi Mata’s temple and at the feet of Mateshwari (Goddess Mother) she started crying. “Mother! When did I ask for money? What work do I have from money? I have only work with my husband. I have prayed to see my husband again and serve him.”
Then the Mother being pleased said, “Go daughter! Your husband will come.” Hearing this she became happy and returned home and started doing her work.
Now Mother Santoshi started thinking, ” I said this to the innocent woman. But from where will her husband come? He does not even remember her in his dreams! I will have to go to him to remind him.” In this way, Mataji went in the dreams of the old woman’s son and began saying.
“Wealthy man’s son, are you sleeping or awake?” He replies, “Mother I am neither sleeping nor awake. Kindly tell me what do you wish to instruct to me?” Mother started saying, ” Do you have a family – Yes or No?” He replied, “I have everyone, Mother! Mother-father, wife I have nothing less.” Mother said, “Innocent son! Your wife is taking lots of trouble, your father – mother is giving her plenty of trouble. You should inquire about her.”
He said, “Yes, Mataji, I know about it but how do I go back? This is another country, there is no limit of buying and selling transactions, there is no road for going which I can see.” Mother started saying, listen to me, “In the morning after having taken bath, take the name of Santoshi Mata, burn a lamp with ghee. Then go and sit in the shop. Slowly your liabilities will be over. Your stores will be sold. By evening heaps of wealth will be formed.”
Now he got up early and shared his dream with his friends. They all told him, “Do any dreams come true?” One old man said, ” Listen to me, instead of doubting the truth or falsehood of the dream, following what God has instructed what will you loose? Now listen to the old man. After bathing, pray to Santoshi Mata, light a lamp of ghee, and go and sit in the shop.”
In a short while what does he see, the borrowers started returning the money and the lenders started taking back their money? People started buying the stocks in cash only. By evening he had collected plenty of wealth. In his mind he continuously took the name of Mata and watched the miracle. Being happy he purchased jewelry, clothes and things to take to his house. Having completed the work here he immediately left for his hometown.
There the wife has gone to the forest to collect wood, 
on the return she rested at the Santoshi Mata Temple . This was her regular everyday place of halt to rest. Seeing the dust flying from far she asked Mataji, ” Oh Mataji, Why is this dust flying? ” Mother says to her, ” Oh daughter! Your husband is coming. Now make three bundles from the wood. One you keep on the bank of the river, one in the temple and the third keep on your head. Seeing the bundle of wood your husband will have desire and he will stop at the temple, make some snacks. And then go to the mother”. Then carrying the burden of wood remove it from your head and in the center of the lane cry out three times loudly, ” Take, mother-in-law! Take the bundle of wood, give me the roti of husk and in the coconut shell give me water! Today which guest has come? Listen to the Mother, daughter-in-law.”
The daughter-in-law said, “Ok, Yes Mother!” Then happily made three bundles from the wood. She kept one at the bank of the river, one in the temple of Mataji and at that time one traveler reached there. Seeing the dried wood the desire to rest and make some food came in his mind. After resting he went to the village. He met everyone with love.
At the same time the wife comes along with the bundle of wood. Keeping the heavy bundle of wood in the compound, she cried out loudly, “Take mother-in-law, take the bundle of wood, give me the husk roti, give me in the broken coconut shell water. Today who has come?”
Hearing this the mother-in-law to hide her trouble says, “Daughter-in-law! Why do you say thus?
Your Lord (husband) has come. Come in have sweet rice meal, wear clothes and jewelry!”
Meanwhile hearing the voice the husband comes out and seeing the ring gets astonished. He asks his mother, ” Mother, Who is this lady?” The mother says, “Son, she is your wife. Today 12 years have passed, from the time you left she roams about like an animal in the whole village. She does none of the household chores. Four times she comes and eats, seeing you she is asking for husk roti and water in the coconut shell.”
Being ashamed he said, ” It’s alright mother! I have seen her and seen you also. Now give me the keys of the other house so I can live there.” Then the mother said, “It’s alright son! As you wish.” Here is the bundle of keys, which she threw forcefully on the floor.
He picked the keys and went to the next house. Opening the room on the third floor he kept all the things. Within one day the house was decorated like a King’s palace.
Now what happens? The wife started enjoying happiness; meanwhile the next Friday comes. She told her husband, ” I want to do the Udyapan of Santoshi Mata Vrat.” Her husband said, ” Very good! Do it happily.”
Immediately she started preparing for the Udyapan. She went to invite the sons of her elder brother-in-laws for lunch. She accepted the invitation but the other middle sister-in-law teaches her son, ” See! All of you ask for sour item by which her Udyapan would not be completed.”
The boys came for the lunch; they ate stomachful helpings of Kheer. But remembering the words of the mother began saying, “Give us something sour, we do not like eating Kheer. Seeing it we are feeling uneasy.” The daughter-in-law started saying, ” No one will get any sour item. This is the prasad of Santoshi Mata.” The boys stood up and said, “Give money!” The innocent daughter-in-law knowing nothing gave them money. The boys at that moment stubbornly purchased imli (tamarind) and started eating.
Seeing this the Mother cursed the daughter-in-law. The soldiers of the King arrested her husband and took him away. The brothers and sister-in-law started falsely making statements, “Always looting, he has collected this wealth.” The soldiers of the King took him away. Now everything will be known once he gets beating in the jail. The wife could not bear to hear this statement. Crying she went to the temple of Mataji .
She began saying, ” Mother! What is this you did? Why did you make me cry?” Mother said, “Daughter, you have done the Udyapan and spoiled the Vrat. So soon you forgot all the talks.”
She started saying, “Mother I have not forgotten, nor committed any sin. The boys made me forget and forgetting I gave them money, forgive me Mother!” Mother said. ” Does one forget thus?” She said,”Mother please forgive me, I will do your Udyapan again.” Mother said, ” Now make no mistake”. She says, ” Now no mistake will be committed. Mother please tell me now how will he come.” Mother said, ” Go daughter, you will find your husband coming on the way.”
She went from there and on the way she found her husband. She asked him, “Where did you go?” Then he started saying, ” He had earned so much of wealth so the King wanted him to pay the taxes, he had gone to pay the taxes.” Being happy she said, “Good thing happened, let’s go home.”
They went home.
After few days once again Friday came, she said to her husband- “I want to once again do the Udyapan of Mataji.” The husband said, “Do it.”
She again went to invite the sons of her elder brother-in-laws. The sister-in-laws taunted her and started teaching the sons, ” You all in the beginning only ask for sour item.” The boys started saying, ” We do not like eating Kheer, we get uneasy, give us something sour to eat.” She said, “You will get no sour item, if you desire then eat only.” Then she got the Brahmin’s sons and started feeding them. As per her capacity in place of money she gave each one -one fruit. This pleased Santoshi Mata.
With the blessings of the Mother in the New Year she
got a moon-like son. Taking her son everyday she went to the Mataji’s temple. Mother thought, “She is coming everyday, today why should I not go to her house and see her on this pretext.” Thus thinking, Mata made a fearful form. With jaggery and gram made a thin face and on top made horns and mosquitoes were hovering around. Putting her foot on the doorstep the mother-in-law shouted. “See, some wicked witch is coming. Boys drive her away, otherwise she may eat anyone.” The boys got frightened and started closing the windows.
The daughter-in-law saw through one peephole. Happily in a maddening voice she was screaming. ” Today my Mataji has come to my house.” Saying thus she moved her child whom she was feeding milk. Meanwhile the mother-in-law got angry.
She said, ” Prostitute, why are you getting excited?”
She banged the child. Meanwhile with the aura of the Mother everywhere there were boys standing. She said, ” Mother, the fast which I am keeping this is the same Santoshi Ma”. Saying thus she opened all the doors and windows of the house. Everyone caught the feet of Mataji and prayed to her, “Hey Mata, [dear mother] we are fools, sinners, we do not know the rules of your fast, spoiling your fast we did very big mistake. Hey Jagatmata- Mother of the world! Forgive our mistake.” This way the Mother became happy.
How Mother rewarded the daughter-in-law in the same way reward everyone. Those who read the story their wishes are fulfilled.
Sukhdata Bhagya Vidhata Jai Karna Santoshi Maa |
Gaye Gnata Gun Budh Gata Riddhi Siddhi Data ||
Shubh Hove Tuj Naam Hi Lete, Sahayko Maa Premse Aaye |
Santoshi Maa Mangal Karana, Tuj Vrat Karke Sab Harkhaye ||
Maa Santoshi is an emblem of love, contentment, forgiveness, happiness and hope. It is so believed that fasting and praying for her for 16 consecutive Fridays brings peace and prosperity in ones family.
Santoshi Maa inspires an individual to cherish family values and to come out of the crisis with one’s determination. Santoshi Maa is also considered to be an incarnation of Mother Durga and is widely worshipped through out India and by Indians residing outside India.
Vinati Suno Vinati Suno, Sankat Harani Santoshi Maa
Saadhu Jana Priya Sai Maa, Sadaa Ananda Daayini Maa
Sada Shiva Priya Sai Maa
Worship:The vrata
The Santoshi Mata vrata is to be observed on 16 successive Fridays or till one’s wish is fulfilled. The devotee should perform a puja (worship) of Santoshi Mata and offer her flowers, incense and a bowl of raw sugar and roasted chickpeas (gur-chana). The devotee should have only one meal during the day and not eat or serve bitter or sour food to others. When one’s wish is granted, one should organize a udyapan (“bringing to conclusion”) ceremony, where eight boys should be served a festive meal
Vrata-katha
Unlike other Indian mythological films which were based on the Hindu epics or the Puranic scriptures, Jai Santoshi Maa was based on a popular pamphlet about the vrata katha(legend of the ritual fast) of Santoshi Mata’s Friday vrata. The vrata katha is as follows: An old woman had seven sons, the youngest of whom was irresponsible so she served him the leftovers of his brother’s meals as his daily meal. The wife of the youngest son got to know this and told her husband, who left the house to seek his fortune. He acquired work with a merchant and became wealthy, but forgot about his wife. His wife was tormented by her in-laws in absence of her husband. Once, she came to know about the 16-week Santoshi Ma vrata and performed it. As a result, Santoshi Mata appeared in her husband’s dream and informed him of his wife’s plight. He returned home wealthy and set up a separate household with his wife. In the udyapan ceremony of the vrata, the in-laws plotted against the wife and served sour food to the eight boys, offending Santoshi Mata. As a consequence, her husband was arrested. The wife re-performed the vrata and theudyapan. Her husband was released from prison and she soon bore a son. Once, the goddess visited the family, in a terrifying form; while the in-laws fled, the wife recognized the goddess and worshipped her. Then the in-laws asked forgiveness of the goddess and the whole family was blessed by the goddess. A. K. Ramanujan calls this tale with nameless characters as “the most interior kind of folktales: those generally told by women within domestic space.” The vrata katha also does not associate the goddess with Ganesha—the god of obstacle removal and beginnings, who is described as her father in the film and other devotee literature.
Shrii Santoshi Maataa Chalisa
DOHAA
SANTOSHI SANKATA HARANA
HE CHAMATKAARA KII MURTI
GRAHA BAADHAA KO DUURA KARA
KARO KAAMANAA PUURTII
Santoshi, a veritable embodiment of miraculous feats, is the dispeller of all crises and obstructions caused by evil stars. I entreat her to fulfill my cherished hopes.
JAI YUGA-YUGA KII AADI SHAKTI
JAGA MEIN PRACHALITA HAI TAVA BHAKTI
AADI, MADHYA AURA AVASAANAA
TERII GATI VIDHI KOII NA JAANAA
Glory , all glory to you, O Primordial Power, worshipped in every age. Devotion to you is now a universal phenomenon. Without a beginning a middle and as you are, your movements and activities are mysterious and incomprehensible.
NIRMALA SHRADDHA MEIN KHUSHA HOTII
THODE MEIN SANTUSHTA HO JAATI
KALI MEIN NAAMA DHAARYO SANTOSHI
AGNI TULAYA PRATYAKSHA-VISHEKHII
Selfless and unblemished regard shown to you pleases you most; a trifling faith in you is enough to satisfy you. Although you are bright as fire and visible, you are called Santoshi in this Kali age.
KALAA GYAANA BALA VIDYAA DAATRII
TUMA SAMA SARALA SUKHADA NAHIN DHAATRII
SAKALA CHARAACHARA TUMA SE CHALATE
BHUUTA PRETA YAMADUUTA SINHARATE
To you we owe the arts, knowledge, strength and learning for there is no foster-mother as simple and comforting as you; and to you owes everything, moving and unmoving, its existence; but you are a big terror to ghosts, fiends and Death’s messengers.
DUSHTA DALANA SANHAARA KAARINII
MAATAA TUMA BRAHMAANDA DHAARINII
SARASVATII LAKSHMII AURA KAALII
AMITA SHAKTI KII KHAANA NIRAALII
While you kill and destroy the wicked, you sustain and uphold the universe. As Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali you are a mysterious and unique reservoir of immeasurable power.
TUMHAARE SHARANA GAHE JO KOII
MANOKAAMANAA PUURANA HOII
TUMA GANESHA KII MAAN KANYAA
TUMASE DHARATII HO GAII DHANYAA
Whosoever seeks your protection, finds all his desires fulfilled. You are the virgin mother of Ganesha and it is you who made the earth a supremely favoured place.
RIDDHI SIDDHI HAI TUMHAARII MAATAA
MANGALAAYA VARADAANA KE DAATAA
BRAHMAA VISHNU MAHESHA TRIMAAYAA
USAKAA BALA TUJHAMEIN HAI SAMAAYAA
O Mother, you are the daughter of Riddhi and Siddhi, the two most munificent bestowers of propitious boons and embody the triple wisdom (extraordinary or supernatural power, shaktis or energies) of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha.
SIRA PARA KANCHANA MUKUTA SUHAATAA
SUNDARA RATNASAMUUHA DIKHAATAA
MADHURA-MANOHARA MUKHADAA KOMALA
PUSHPAMAALA AURA SHYAAMALA KUNTALA
On your head is a beautiful golden coronet studded with a cluster of splendid jewels; your soft, tender face possesses the beauty of mingled sweetness and charm aided by a beautiful wreath of flowers and a lock of black hair.
ALANKAARA SOHITA HAIN ANGA MEIN
NAVYA DIVYA TANA GERUU RANGA MEIN
SUNDARA VASTRA MEIN MAALAA RAKHATII
DARSHAKA KE MANA VASHA MEIN KARATII
Your young divine body decked out with ornaments, looks elegant in its red ochre as does the wreath on your beautiful garments which bewitch the minds of all who behold them.
PADMA TRIREKHA DHARE DO HAATHA
CHATURBHUJII KO TEKAHU MAATHA
SANMUKHA AMRITA BHARII SURAAHII
SAATHA KAAMADHENU MANACHAAHII
Bow to the four-armed goddess who holds a lotus and a conch-shell in tow of her hands. In front of her is a flagon filled with nectar and beside her the much coveted cow of plenty.
SVARNA KALASHA RAHATAA HAI AAGE
BHAKTON KE SAUBHAAGA HAIN JAAGE
TUMHAARE BHAKTIBHAAVA JO PAVE
AJARA AMARA JAGA MEIN HO JAAVE
Before you is kept a golden pitcher for blessing the devotees with good fortune. (The presence of the pitcher is a evidence of Santoshi’s readiness to bliss; the blessed urn is easily accessible for blessing whosoever wins her favour) O Mother, age does not wither him nor Death kill the person whom you bless with disinterested love and devotion.
NAMO NAMO JAG A TAARANA HAARII
DUHKHA DAARIDRA TAARO MAHATAARI
SHUKRAVAARA DINA ATI ANUKUULAA
SANTOSHI VRATA MANGALA MUULAA
I bow to you again and again, O deliverer of the world and entreat you to be so good a mother as to relieve me of my penury and misery. Fridays are all favorable to you for the observance of Santoshi’s Vrata-the vow kept in honor of you; it is the root of all blessings.
BAHUVIDHA MAATA KII PUUJAA KARA
SANTOSHI KII KATHAA SHRAVANA KARA
GUDA AURA CHANAA PRASAADA CHADHAAVE
NIRAAHAARA EKA JUUNA MANAAVE
SAAVADHAANA USA DINA YAHA RAAKHE
BHUULA SE KHATTAA DEVE NA CHAAKHE
NAHIN TO MAATU KUPITA HO JAATII
VANSHA SAHITA SANTAANA NASAATII
Let the devotee worship the Mother in as many ways as possible and listen to the story of her miraculous acts; let him offer her jaggery and non-fried gram and forgo one meal. He should be particularly careful not to offer nor taste anything sour. Failure to observe this rule so enrages the Mother that she, in her fury, destroys the family of the transgressor.
SHUKRAVAARA SOLAHA VRATA RAAKHE
UDYAAPANA UTSAAHA MANAAVE
PHIRA TO ICCHCHAA PUURANA HOII
MAATU KRIPAA SE DERA NA HOII
Continuously for sixteen Fridays should the vrata be observed and with great pomp and ceremony must it close. If these instructions are followed, every desire of the devotee will be fulfilled without delay.
ADBHUTA DEVII CHAMATKAARINII
PALA MEIN CHINTAA PIIDAA HARANII MEIN
JAAPARA KRIPAA MAATU KII HOII
JIITA SAKE NA USAKO KOII
Endowed with miraculous powers, the wonderful goddess relieves her votaries of their anxieties and sufferings in trice. Whosoever is blessed by the compassionate mother becomes invincible.
DHANA VIVEKA SUKHA SHANTI PRADAAYINII
ISA YUGA KII NAVAPRAANA VIDHAAYINII
TUMA SAMA DEVII KOUU NAAHIN
DEKHA LIYAA MEIN TRIBHUVANA MAAHIN
She doles out wealth, knowledge, happiness and peace to her supplicants for she is the harbinger of a new awakening (renewed vitality) in this age. I am convinced that there is nine in the three spheres comparable to her in might and compassion.
DUKHA ATI PAAII BAHU BECHAARII
PATI VIYOGA KII VAHA DUKHIYAARII
NAARIYALA KHOPARA PIIKARA PAANII
BHUUSA KII ROTII KHAAII ABHAAGINII
SANTOSHII KAA VRATA JO KIINHAA
PATI SAHITA VAIBHAVA PAA LIINHAA
A poor hapless housewife, bereaved of her husband was extremely distraught and was so unlucky that she has a coconut shell from which she drank water and eased her hunger by eating bread made of husks and chaff. When she observed the vow consecrated to Santoshi, she was blessed with prosperity and her husband was restored to her.
PIIDAA CHINTAA KAATAHU MAATAA
ASHTA SIDDHI NAU NIDHI KE DAATAA
SANTOSHI UPAVAASA KARE JO
SUKHA SAMPATI KAA BHOGA KARE VO
O Mother, you are the gracious donor of the eight accomplishments and nine treasures; I supplicate you to relieve me of my worries and sufferings. He who observes fast (as a ceremonial rite to please Santoshi) enjoys both wealth and happiness.
YAHAAN VAHAAN SABA THAURA SAMAAII
TUMHARII MAHIMAA KAHII NA JAAII
MANAVAANCHITA VARA PAAVAI KVAARII
PAAYE SUHAAGA SADHAVAA SANNAARII
Your glory, which permeates all space, beggars description. Maidens if chaste and devoted to you, get husbands of their choice and married women if faithful and virtuous receive the boon of lasting coverture.
SUKHA DHANA JANA SABA MANOKAAMANAA
PUURNA HOGII SATYA JAANANAA
PAATHA SAVAA SAU KARAI JO KOII
MITAI KASHTA SUKHA-SAMPATI HOII
Consider it a indubitable truth (law, principle) that devotion to Santoshi leads to the fulfillment of all desires and yields happiness, prosperity and a large family. He who repeats this hymn a hundred and twenty-five times is relieved of all his afflictions and is blessed with great felicity and riches.
हम सातो वारों की व्रत कथा के इस अंक में आपको शुक्रवार को किए जाने वाले संतोषी माता के व्रत के बारे में जानकारी दे रहे हैं. संतोषी माता को हिंदू धर्म में संतोष, सुख, शांति और वैभव की माता के रुप में पूजा जाता है. धार्मिक मान्यताओं के अनुसार माता संतोषी भगवान श्रीगणेश की पुत्री हैं. संतोष हमारे जीवन में बहुत जरूरी है. संतोष ना हो तो इंसान मानसिक और शारीरिक तौर पर बेहद कमजोर हो जाता है. संतोषी मां हमें संतोष दिला हमारे जीवन में खुशियों का प्रवाह करती हैं.
माता संतोषी का व्रत पूजन करने से धन, विवाह संतानादि भौतिक सुखों में वृद्धि होती है. यह व्रत शुक्ल पक्ष के प्रथम शुक्रवार से शुरू किया जाता है .
संतोषी माता के व्रत की पूजन विधि
सुख-सौभाग्य की कामना से माता संतोषी के 16 शुक्रवार तक व्रत किए जाने का विधान है.
* सूर्योदय से पहले उठकर घर की सफ़ाई इत्यादि पूर्ण कर लें.
स्नानादि के पश्चात घर में किसी सुन्दर व पवित्र जगह पर माता संतोषी की प्रतिमा या चित्र स्थापित करें.
* माता संतोषी के संमुख एक कलश जल भर कर रखें. कलश के ऊपर एक कटोरा भर कर गुड़ व चना रखें.
* माता के समक्ष एक घी का दीपक जलाएं.
* माता को अक्षत, फ़ूल, सुगन्धित गंध, नारियल, लाल वस्त्र या चुनरी अर्पित करें.
* माता संतोषी को गुड़ व चने का भोग लगाएँ.
* संतोषी माता की जय बोलकर माता की कथा आरम्भ करें.
इस व्रत को करने वाला कथा कहते व सुनते समय हाथ में गुड़ और भुने हुए चने रखे. सुनने वाला प्रगट ‘संतोषी माता की जय’ इस प्रकार जय जयकार मुख से बोलता जावे. कथा समाप्त होने पर हाथ का गुड और चना गाय को खिला देवें. कलश के ऊपर रखा गुड और चना सभी को प्रसाद के रूप में बांट देवें. कथा से पहले कलश को जल से भरे और उसके ऊपर गुड व चने से भरा कटोरा रखे. कथा समाप्त होने और आरती होने के बाद कलश के जल को घर में सब जगहों पर छिड़कें और बचा हुवा जल तुलसी की क्यारी में सींच देवें. बाज़ार से गुड मोल लेकर और यदि गुड घर में हो तो वही काम में लेकर व्रत करे. व्रत करने वाले को श्रद्धा और प्रेम से प्रसन्न मन से व्रत करना चाहिए.
विशेष: इस दिन व्रत करने वाले स्त्री-पुरुष को ना ही खट्टी चीजें हाथ लगानी चाहिए और ना ही खानी चाहिए.
संतोषी माता की व्रत कथा
एक बुढिया थी जिसके सात बेटे थे. उनमे से छः कमाते थे और एक न कमाने वाला था. वह बुढिया उन छयों को अच्छी रसोई बनाकर बड़े प्रेम से खिलाती पर सातवें को बचा-खुचा झूठन खिलाती थी. परन्तु वह भोला था अतः मन में कुछ भी विचार नहीं करता था. एक दिन वह अपनी पत्नी से बोला – देखो मेरी माता को मुझसे कितना प्रेम है? उसने कहा वह तुम्हें सभी की झूठन खिलाती है, फिर भी तुम ऐसा कहते हो चाहे तो तुम समय आने पर देख सकते हो.
एक दिन बहुत बड़ा त्यौहार आया. बुढिया ने सात प्रकार के भोजन और चूरमे के लड्डू बनाए. सातवाँ लड़का यह बात जांचने के लिए सिर दुखने का बहाना करके पतला कपडा ओढ़कर सो गया और देखने लगा माँ ने उनको बहुत अच्छे आसनों पर बिठाया और सात प्रकार के भोजन और लड्डू परोसे. वह उन्हें बड़े प्रेम से खिला रही है. जब वे छयो उठ गए तो माँ ने उनकी थालियों से झूठन इकट्ठी की और उनसे एक लड्डू बनाया. फिर वह सातवें लड़के से बोली “अरे रोटी खाले.” वह बोला ‘ माँ मैं भोजन नहीं करूँगा मैं तो परदेश जा रहा हूँ.’ माँ ने कहा – ‘कल जाता है तो आज ही चला जा.’ वह घर से निकल गया. चलते समय उसे अपनी पत्नी की याद आयी जो गोशाला में कंडे थाप रही थी. वह बोला – “हम विदेश को जा रहे है, आएंगे कछु काल. तुम रहियो संतोष से, धरम अपनों पाल.”
इस पर उसकी पत्नी बोली
जाओ पिया आनन्द से, हमारी सोच हटाए.
राम भरोसे हम रहे, ईश्वर तुम्हें सहाय.
देहु निशानी आपणी, देख धरूँ मैं धीर.
सुधि हमारी ना बिसारियो, रखियो मन गंभीर.
इस पर वह लड़का बोला – ‘मेरे पास कुछ नहीं है. यह अंगूठी है सो ले और मुझे भी अपनी कोई निशानी दे दे. वह बोली मेरे पास क्या है? यह गोबर भरे हाथ है. यह कहकर उसने उसकी पीठ पर गोबर भरे हाथ की थाप मार दी. वह लड़का चल दिया. ऐसा कहते है, इसी कारण से विवाह में पत्नी पति की पीठ पर हाथ का छापा मारती है.
चलते समय वह दूर देश में पहुँचा. वह एक व्यापारी की दुकान पर जाकर बोला ‘ भाई मुझे नौकरी पर रख लो.’ व्यापारी को नौकर की जरुरत थी. अतः बोला तन्ख्वाह काम देखकर देंगे. तुम रह जाओ. वह सवेरे ७ बजे से रात की १२ बजे तक नौकरी करने लगा. थोड़े ही दिनों में सारा लेन देन और हिसाब – किताब करने लगा. सेठ के ७ – ८ नौकर चककर खाने लगे. सेठ से उसे दो तीन महीने ने आधे मुनाफे का हिस्सेदार बना दिया. बारह वर्ष में वह नामी सेठ बन गया और उसका मालिक उसके भरोसे काम छोड़कर कहीं बाहर चला गया.
उधर उसकी औरत को सास और जिठानियाँ बड़ा कष्ट देने लगी. वे उसे लकडी लेने जंगल में भेजती. भूसे की रोटी देती, फूटे नारियल में पानी देती. वह बड़े कष्ट से जीवन बिताती थी. एक दिन जब वह लकडी लेने जा रही थी तो रास्ते में उसने कई औरतों को व्रत करते देखा. वह पूछने लगी – ‘बहनों यह किसका व्रत है, कैसे करते है और इससे क्या फल मिलता है ? तो एक स्त्री बोली ‘ यह संतोषी माता का व्रत है इसके करने से मनोवांछित फल मिलता है, इससे गरीबी, मन की चिंताएँ, राज के मुकद्दमे. कलह, रोग नष्ट होते है और संतान, सुख, धन, प्रसन्नता, शांति, मन पसंद वर मिले व बाहर गये हुए पति के दर्शन होते है.’ उसने उसे व्रत करने की विधि बता दी.
उसने रास्ते में सारी लकडियाँ बेच दी व गुड और चना ले लिया. उसने व्रत करने की तैयारी की. उसने सामने एक मंदिर देखा तो पूछने लगी ‘ यह मंदिर किसका है ?’ वह कहने लगे ‘ यह संतोषी माता का मंदिर है.’ वह मंदिर में गई और माता के चरणों में लोटने लगी. वह दुखी होकर विनती करने लगी ‘माँ ! मैं अज्ञानी हूँ. मैं बहुत दुखी हूँ. मैं तुम्हारी शरण में हूँ. मेरा दुःख दूर करो.’ माता को दया आ गयी. एक शुक्रवार को उसके पति का पत्र आया और अगले शुक्रवार को पति का भेजा हुआ धन मिला. अब तो जेठ जेठानी और सास नाक सिकोड़ के कहने लगे ‘ अब तो इसकी खातिर बढेगी, यह बुलाने पर भी नहीं बोलेगी.’
वह बोली ‘ पत्र और धन आवे तो सभी को अच्छा हैं.’ उसकी आँखों में आंसू आ गये. वह मंदिर में गई और माता के चरणों में गिरकर बोली हे माँ ! मैंने तुमसे पैसा कब माँगा था ? मुझे तो अपना सुहाग चाहिये. मैं तो अपने स्वामी के दर्शन और सेवा करना मांगती हूँ. तब माता ने प्रसन्न होकर कहा – ‘जा बेटी तेरा पति आवेगा.’ वह बड़ी प्रसन्नता से घर गई और घर का काम काज करने लगी. उधर संतोषी माता ने उसके पति को स्वप्न में घर जाने और पत्नी की याद दिलाई. उसने कहा माँ मैं कैसे जाऊँ, परदेश की बात है, लेन – देन का कोई हिसाब नहीं है.’ माँ ने कहा मेरी बात मान सवेरे नहा – धोकर मेरा नाम लेकर घी का दीपक जलाकर दंडवत करके दुकान पर बैठना. देखते देखते सारा लेन – देन साफ़ हो जायेगा. धन का ढेर लग जायेगा.
सवेरे उसने अपने स्वप्न की बात सभी से कही तो सब दिल्लगी उडाने लगे. वे कहने लगे कि कही सपने भी सत्य होते है. पर एक बूढे ने कहा ‘ भाई ! जैसे माता ने कहा है वैसे करने में का डर है ?’ उसने नहा धोकर, माता को दंडवत करने घी का दीपक जलाया और दुकान पर जाकर बैठ जाया. थोडी ही देर में सारा लेन देन साफ़ हो गया, सारा माल बिक गया और धन का ढेर लग गया. वह प्रसन्न हुआ और घर के लिए गहने और सामान वगेरह खरीदने लगा| वह जल्दी ही घर को रवाना हो गया.
उधर बेचारी उसकी पत्नी रोज़ लकडियाँ लेने जाती और रोज़ संतोषी माता की सेवा करती. उसने माता से पूछा – हे माँ ! यह धूल कैसी उड़ रही है ? माता ने कहा तेरा पति आ रहा है. तूं लकडियों के तीन बोझ बना लें. एक नदी के किनारे रख, एक यहाँ रख और तीसरा अपने सिर पर रख ले. तेरे पति के दिल में उस लकडी के गट्ठे को देखकर मोह पैदा होगा. जब वह यहाँ रुक कर नाश्ता पानी करके घर जायेगा, तब तूँ लकडियाँ उठाकर घर जाना और चोक के बीच में गट्ठर डालकर जोर जोर से तीन आवाजें लगाना, ” सासूजी ! लकडियों का गट्ठा लो, भूसे की रोटी दो और नारियल के खोपडे में पानी दो. आज मेहमान कौन आया है ?” इसने माँ के चरण छूए और उसके कहे अनुसार सारा कार्य किया.
वह तीसरा गट्ठर लेकर घर गई और चोक में डालकर कहने लगी “सासूजी ! लकडियों का गट्ठर लो, भूसे की रोटी दो, नारियल के खोपडे में पानी दो, आज मेहमान कौन आया है ?” यह सुनकर सास बाहर आकर कपट भरे वचनों से उसके दिए हुए कष्टों को भुलाने ले लिए कहने लगी ‘ बेटी ! तेरा पति आया है. आ, मीठा भात और भोजन कर और गहने कपडे पहन.’ अपनी माँ के ऐसे वचन सुनकर उसका पति बाहर आया और अपनी पत्नी के हाथ में अंगूठी देख कर व्याकुल हो उठा. उसने पूछा ‘ यह कौन है ?’ माँ ने कहा ‘ यह तेरी बहू है आज बारह बरस हो गए, यह दिन भर घूमती फिरती है, काम – काज करती नहीं है, तुझे देखकर नखरे करती है. वह बोला ठीक है. मैंने तुझे और इसे देख लिया है, अब मुझे दुसरे घर की चाबी दे दो, मैं उसमे रहूँगा.
माँ ने कहा ‘ ठीक है, जैसी तेरी मरजी.’ और उसने चाबियों का गुच्छा पटक दिया. उसने अपना सामान तीसरी मंजिल के ऊपर के कमरे में रख दिया. एक ही दिन में वे राजा के समान ठाठ – बाठ वाले बन गये. इतने में अगला शुक्रवार आया. बहू ने अपनी पति से कहा – मुझे संतोषी माता के व्रत का उद्यापन करना है. वह बोला बहुत अच्छा ख़ुशी से कर ले. जल्दी ही उद्यापन की तैयारी करने लगी. उसने जेठ के लड़कों को जीमने के लिए कहा. उन्होंने मान लिया. पीछे से जिठानियों ने अपने बच्चों को सिखादिया ‘ तुम खटाई मांगना जिससे उसका उद्यापन पूरा न हो.’ लड़कों ने जीम कर खटाई मांगी. बहू कहने लगी ‘ भाई खटाई किसी को नहीं दी जायेगी. यह तो संतोषी माता का प्रसाद है.’ लडके खड़े हो गये और बोले पैसा लाओ| वह भोली कुछ न समझ सकी उनका क्या भेद है| उसने पैसे दे दिये और वे इमली की खटाई मंगाकर खाने लगे. इस पर संतोषी माता ने उस पर रोष किया. राजा के दूत उसके पति को पकड़ कर ले गये. वह बेचारी बड़ी दुखी हुई और रोती हुई माताजी के मंदिर में गई और उनके चरणों में गिरकर कहने लगी ‘ हे ! माता यह क्या किया ? हँसाकर अब तूँ मुझे क्यों रुलाने लगी ?’ माता बोली पुत्री मुझे दुःख है कि तुमने अभिमान करके मेरा व्रत तोडा है और इतनी जल्दी सब बातें भुला दी. वह कहने लगी – ‘ माता ! मेरा कोई अपराध नहीं है. मुझे तो लड़को ने भूल में दल दिया. मैंने भूल से ही उन्हें पैसे दे दिये. माँ मुझे क्षमा करो मैं दुबारा तुम्हारा उद्यापन करुँगी.’ माता बोली ‘ जा तेरा पति रास्ते में आता हुआ ही मिलेगा.’ उसे रास्ते में उसका पति मिला. उसके पूछने पर वह बोला ‘ राजा ने मुझे बुलाया था ‘ मैं उससे मिलने गया था. वे फिर घर चले गये.
कुछ ही दिन बाद फिर शुक्रवार आया. वह दुबारा पति की आज्ञा से उद्यापन करने लगी. उसने फिर जेठ के लड़को को बुलावा दिया. जेठानियों ने फिर वहीं बात सिखा दी. लड़के भोजन की बात पर फिर खटाई माँगने लगे. उसने कहा ‘ खटाई कुछ भी नहीं मिलेगी आना हो तो आओ.’ यह कहकर वह ब्राह्मणों के लड़को को लाकर भोजन कराने लगी. यथाशक्ति उसने उन्हें दक्षिणा दी. संतोषी माता उस पर बड़ी प्रसन्न हुई, माता की कृपा से नवमे मास में उसके एक चंद्रमा के समान सुन्दर पुत्र हुआ. अपने पुत्र को लेकर वह रोजाना मंदिर जाने लगी.
एक दिन संतोषी माता ने सोचा कि यह रोज़ यहाँ आती है. आजमैं इसके घर चलूँ. इसका सासरा देखूं. यह सोचकर उसने एक भयानक रूप बनाया. गुड व् चने से सना मुख, ऊपर को सूँड के समान होठ जिन पर मक्खियां भिनभिना रही थी. इसी सूरत में वह उसके घर गई. देहली में पाँव रखते ही उसकी सास बोली ‘ देखो कोई डाकिन आ रही है, इसे भगाओ नहीं तो किसी को खा जायेगी.’ लड़के भागकर खिड़की बन्द करने लगे. सातवे लड़के की बहु खिड़की से देख रही थी. वह वही से चिल्लाने लगी ” आज मेरी माता मेरे ही घर आई है.’ यह कहकर उसने बच्चे को दूध पीने से हटाया. इतने में सास बोली ‘ पगली किसे देख कर उतावली हुई है, बच्चे को पटक दिया है.’
इतने में संतोषी माता के प्रताप से वहाँ लड़के ही लड़के नज़र आने लगे. बहू बोली ” सासूजी मैं जिसका व्रत करती हूँ, यह वो ही संतोषी माता हैं. यह कह कर उसने सारी खिड़कियां खोल दी. सबने संतोषी माता के चरण पकड़ लिए और विनती कर कहने लगे – “हे माता ! हम मूर्ख हैं, अज्ञानी है, पापिनी है, तुम्हारे व्रत की विधि हम नहीं जानती, तुम्हारा व्रत भंग कर हमने बहुत बड़ा अपराध किया है. हे जगत माता ! आप हमारा अपराध क्षमा करो.” इस पर माता उन पर प्रसन्न हुई. बहू को जैसा फल दिया वैसा माता सबको दें.
