Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha

Part 1

Bahut samay pehle ek nagar mein ek sahukar rehta tha. Uski patni ke saat bete the. Ghar dhan-dhaanya se bhara tha aur bachchon ki hansi se goonjta rehta tha.

Long ago, a merchant lived in a town. His wife had seven sons. Their home was full of plenty and rang with the children's laughter.

Part 2

Diwali se kuchh din pehle sahukarni ghar leepne ke liye mitti laane jangal ki or gayi. Vahan ek teele ke paas vah kudaal se mitti khodne lagi.

A few days before Diwali, the merchant's wife went towards the forest to fetch clay for plastering the house. Near a mound she began to dig with a hoe.

Part 3

Us teele mein ek sehi (syahu) ki maand thi, jismein uske chhote-chhote bachche rehte the. Anjaane mein sahukarni ki kudaal ek bachche ko lag gayi aur vah mar gaya.

In that mound was the den of a sehi, a porcupine, where her little cubs lived. Without knowing it, the woman's hoe struck one of the cubs, and it died.

Part 4

Yah dekhkar sahukarni ka man kaanp utha. Use apni bhool par bahut pachhtava hua. Vah bhaari man se mitti lekar ghar laut aayi, par yah baat kisi se keh na saki.

Seeing this, her heart trembled. She deeply regretted what she had done. With a heavy heart she carried the clay home, but she could not bring herself to tell anyone.

Part 5

Kuchh samay baad uske bete ek-ek karke beemar padne lage, aur ek varsh ke bheetar saaton bete chal base. Sahukarni ka dukh kehne se bahar tha. Vah din-raat roti rehti thi.

Before long her sons fell ill one after another, and within a year all seven had died. Her grief was beyond words, and she wept day and night.

Part 6

Ek din usne gaon ki badi-boodhi striyon ke saamne apna man khol diya. Usne rote hue kaha, “Maine jaan-boojhkar koi paap nahin kiya. Anjaane mein sehi ka bachcha mujhse mar gaya tha. Tabhi se mera sab kuchh ujad gaya.”

One day she opened her heart to the elder women of the village. Weeping, she said, “I never meant to do wrong. By accident I killed a porcupine's cub, and since then I have lost everything.”

Part 7

Striyon ne use dhaadhas bandhaya aur kaha, “Tumne apni bhool sachche man se maan li hai, isse tumhara aadha paap dhul gaya. Ab Kartik Krishna Ashtami ko Ahoi Mata ka vrat rakho. Deewar par sehi aur uske bachchon ka chitra banakar Ahoi Mata ki pooja karo aur apni bhool ki kshama maango.”

The women comforted her. “You have owned your mistake with a true heart,” they said, “and that has already washed away half the sin. Now keep the fast of Ahoi Mata on the eighth day of the waning moon in Kartik. Draw the porcupine and her cubs on the wall, worship Ahoi Mata, and ask forgiveness for what you did.”

Part 8

Sahukarni ne vaisa hi kiya. Ashtami ke din usne subah se vrat rakha. Shaam ko deewar par Ahoi Mata, sehi aur uske bachchon ka chitra banaya, jal se bhara karva rakhkar pooja ki aur sachche man se kshama maangi. Raat ko taare nikalne par usne taaron ko arghya diya aur tab vrat khola. Har varsh vah yah vrat isi shraddha se karti rahi.

She did just that. On Ashtami she fasted from dawn. In the evening she drew Ahoi Mata, the porcupine and her cubs on the wall, set a karva full of water before them, worshipped, and asked forgiveness with all her heart. When the stars came out she offered them water, and only then broke her fast. Every year after that she kept the fast with the same faith.

Part 9

Ahoi Mata uski sachchi bhakti se prasann huin. Kehte hain, unki kripa se sahukarni ke saaton bete use phir mil gaye, aur ghar mein phir se khushiyan laut aayin.

Ahoi Mata was pleased by her true devotion. It is said that by her grace the woman was given back all seven of her sons, and joy returned to the house.

Part 10

Tabhi se maataayen apni santaan ki lambi aayu aur sukh ke liye Ahoi Ashtami ka vrat rakhti hain. Ve deewar par Ahoi Mata ka chitra banakar pooja karti hain aur taare dekhkar vrat kholti hain.

Since then, mothers keep the Ahoi Ashtami fast for their children's long life and happiness. They draw Ahoi Mata on the wall, worship her, and break the fast when they see the stars.

Closing prayer

He Ahoi Mata, jaise aapne sahukarni ki sooni god phir bhar di, vaise hi sabki santaan ki raksha karna aur sabki god hari-bhari rakhna. Bolo Ahoi Mata ki jai!

O Ahoi Mata, as you filled that grieving mother's empty lap again, so protect every child and keep every mother's lap full. Say: glory to Ahoi Mata!