Somvar (Monday) Vrat Katha

Dadi: "Guddu, do you remember the Solah Somvar Vrat we talked about? Tonight I have another Monday story - this one about a father who knew his son would only live twelve years."

Guddu: "Only twelve years?! That's so young!"

Dadi: "It's a powerful story about faith when you know the worst is coming. There was once a wealthy merchant who had everything - money, property, respect. But he was deeply sad because he had no children."

Guddu: "So he prayed?"

Dadi: "He observed the Monday fast faithfully, week after week, praying to Lord Shiva for a son. After many months, Shiva and Parvati appeared in his dream."

Guddu: "His prayers were answered!"

Dadi: "Yes and no. Parvati blessed him: 'You will have a son.' But Lord Shiva added: 'The child will only live for twelve years.'"

Guddu: "*voice dropping* That's a terrible blessing..."

Dadi: "Imagine knowing the exact lifespan of your child. The merchant didn't know whether to celebrate or grieve. But he continued his Monday fasts even more devotedly."

Guddu: "Why continue if he knew the outcome?"

Dadi: "That's what makes this story special, beta. True devotion isn't bargaining with God - 'I'll pray only if you give me what I want.' It's loving God through everything, including tragedy."

Guddu: "What happened when the son was born?"

Dadi: "Everyone celebrated except the merchant. He counted the years with dread. When the boy turned eleven, the merchant sent him to Kashi for spiritual education, along with his uncle."

Guddu: "Did he tell the boy about the curse?"

Dadi: "No. The boy traveled happily, unaware of his fate. On their journey, they stopped in a kingdom where a princess was to be married, but the intended groom was blind in one eye. The uncle saw an opportunity."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "To save himself embarrassment, the uncle briefly substituted the merchant's son as the groom during part of the ceremony! But the clever boy wrote a message on the princess's scarf revealing the deception."

Guddu: "Then what happened?"

Dadi: "The boy continued to Kashi and devoted himself to studies. Days passed. Months passed. The twelfth year arrived. On the final day of his twelfth year, the boy suddenly fell ill... and died."

Guddu: "*voice small* Just like Shiva said."

Dadi: "The wailing of grief rose to the heavens. At that very moment, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were passing by in the sky. Parvati heard the crying and looked down."

Guddu: "What did she see?"

Dadi: "A young boy's lifeless body, mourners weeping around him. Her heart filled with compassion. 'Please, my lord,' she said to Shiva, 'restore this boy's life.'"

Guddu: "Did Shiva agree?"

Dadi: "Shiva smiled and revealed the truth. 'I was testing the merchant all along,' he said. 'Most devotees come to me only when they want something. But this merchant was different.'"

Guddu: "How?"

Dadi: "'He kept praying even after learning his son would die young. He never complained. He never stopped his worship. He accepted my will and continued loving me through his pain. When he sent his son to Kashi, he was accepting that death is the ultimate truth. He was surrendering to the divine will.'"

Guddu: "So his faith was being tested?"

Dadi: "And he passed. Shiva sprinkled holy Ganga water on the boy's body. The youth woke up as if from sleep, completely healthy!"

Guddu: "The curse was lifted!"

Dadi: "Because of the father's unwavering devotion. The boy returned home with his bride - the princess who had received his secret message - and the family was reunited in joy."

Guddu: "Dadi, what's the lesson here?"

Dadi: "That true devotion isn't transactional. We don't pray only to get things. We pray to build a relationship with the divine. Good times and bad times - we stay connected through both."

Guddu: "Like how you love me even when I'm naughty?"

Dadi: "*laughing* Exactly like that! A parent's love doesn't depend on the child being perfect. And our devotion shouldn't depend on God giving us everything we want."

Guddu: "The merchant kept praying even though he knew his son would die."

Dadi: "And that's what made him special. He didn't blame God. He didn't stop his worship. He didn't become bitter. He kept faith alive even in darkness - and that faith eventually brought light."

Guddu: "I want to have faith like that."

Dadi: "Then remember this story, beta. Life will bring difficulties. Prayers won't always be answered the way we want. But if we keep our connection to the divine, we're never truly alone. And sometimes, miracles happen."

Guddu: "*yawning* Goodnight, Dadi. May our faith never waver."

Dadi: "Even in the darkest twelve years, beta. Even then. Goodnight."