Bhaum Pradosh vrat katha

The Bhaum Pradosh katha: the old woman, Mangaliya and the sadhu

Long, long ago an old woman lived in a town. She had a son named Mangaliya. She had deep faith in Hanuman. Every Tuesday she kept a fast for Hanuman and made him an offering with due rite, and on Tuesdays she neither plastered the floor nor dug the earth.

When many days had passed this way, Hanuman decided to test her faith. He came to her door in the guise of a sadhu and called out, "Is there a devotee of Hanuman here who will grant my wish?" The old woman came out and asked what he wished. The sadhu said he was hungry and would cook a meal; she should plaster a little patch of ground for him. The woman was torn, and with folded hands said she would do anything he asked except plaster the floor or dig the earth.

The sadhu tested her three times, then said, "Call your son. I will lay him face down, light a fire on his back and cook my meal." The ground slipped from under the old woman’s feet, but she had given her word. She called Mangaliya and handed him to the sadhu. The sadhu had her lay Mangaliya down with her own hands and light the fire on his back. Heavy-hearted, she went inside the house.

When the meal was ready the sadhu called the old woman and told her to call Mangaliya too, so that he could also eat. Her eyes filled with tears; she begged him not to wound her heart further by speaking his name. The sadhu would not relent, so she called Mangaliya. At once Mangaliya came running in, laughing. Seeing her son alive, the old woman fell at the sadhu’s feet. Then the sadhu showed himself in his true form. Seeing Hanuman in her own courtyard, she felt her life had found its fulfilment. By the booklet, this vrat brought her liberation.