बुधवार व्रत कथा

बुधवार व्रत कथा : एक समय किसी नगर में एक साहुकार रहा करता था। वह बहुत अधिक धनवान था। साहुकार का विवाह नगर की एक सुंदर और गुणवंती लड़की से हुआ था। एक बार वो अपनी पत्नी को लेने बुधवार के दिन ससुराल  गया। पत्नी के माता-पिता से विदा कराने के लिए कहा। 

माता-पिता बोले - 'बेटा, आज बुधवार है। बुधवार को किसी भी शुभ कार्य के लिए यात्रा नहीं करते।' लेकिन वो नहीं माना। उसने वहम की बातों को न मानने की बात कही। दोनों ने बैलगाड़ी से यात्रा प्रारंभ की। दो कोस की यात्रा के बाद उसकी गाड़ी का एक पहिया टूट गया। वहाँ से दोनों ने पैदल ही यात्रा शुरू की। रास्ते में पत्नी को प्यास लगी। साहुकार उसे एक पेड़ के नीचे बैठाकर जल लेने चला गया।

थोड़ी देर बाद जब वह कहीं से जल लेकर वापस आया तो वह पूरी तरह हैरान रह गया क्योंकि उसकी पत्नी के पास उसकी ही शक्ल-सूरत का एक दूसरा व्यक्ति बैठा हुआ था। पत्नी भी साहुकार को देखकर हैरान रह गई। वह दोनों में कोई अंतर नहीं कर पाई। 

साहुकार ने उस व्यक्ति से पूछा- 'तुम कौन हो और मेरी पत्नी के पास क्यों बैठे हो?'  साहुकार की बात सुनकर उस व्यक्ति ने कहा- 'अरे भाई, यह मेरी पत्नी है। मैं अपनी पत्नी को ससुराल से विदा करा करके लाया हूँ। लेकिन तुम कौन हो जो मुझसे ऐसा प्रश्न कर रहे हो?'

साहुकार ने लगभग चीखते हुए कहा - 'तुम जरूर कोई चोर या ठग हो। यह मेरी पत्नी है। मैं इसे पेड़ के नीचे बैठाकर जल लेने गया था।' इस पर उस व्यक्ति ने कहा- 'अरे भाई! झूठ तो तुम बोल रहे हो।

पत्नी को प्यास लगने पर जल लेने तो मैं गया था। मैंने तो जल लाकर अपनी पत्नी को पिला भी दिया है। अब तुम चुपचाप यहाँ से चलते बनो। नहीं तो किसी सिपाही को बुलाकर तुम्हें पकड़वा दूँगा।'

दोनों एक-दूसरे से लड़ने लगे। उन्हें लड़ते देख बहुत से लोग वहाँ एकत्र हो गए। नगर के कुछ सिपाही भी वहाँ आ गए। सिपाही उन दोनों को पकड़कर राजा के पास ले गए। सारी कहानी सुनकर राजा भी कोई निर्णय नहीं कर पाया। पत्नी  भी उन दोनों में से अपने वास्तविक पति को नहीं पहचान पा रही थी।

राजा ने दोनों को कारागार में डाल देने के लिए कहा। राजा के फैसले पर असली साहुकार भयभीत हो उठा। तभी आकाशवाणी हुई - साहुकार तूने माता-पिता की बात नहीं मानी और बुधवार के दिन अपनी ससुराल से प्रस्थान किया। यह सब भगवान बुधदेव के प्रकोप से हो रहा है।'

साहुकार ने भगवान बुधदेव से प्रार्थना करी कि 'हे भगवान बुधदेव मुझे क्षमा कर दीजिए। मुझसे बहुत बड़ी गलती हुई। भविष्य में अब कभी बुधवार के दिन यात्रा नहीं करूँगा और सदैव बुधवार को आपका व्रत किया करूँगा।'

साहुकार के प्रार्थना करने से भगवान बुधदेव ने उसे क्षमा कर दिया। तभी दूसरा व्यक्ति राजा के सामने से गायब हो गया। राजा और दूसरे लोग इस चमत्कार को देख हैरान हो गए। भगवान बुधदेव की इस अनुकम्पा से राजा ने साहुकार और उसकी पत्नी को सम्मानपूर्वक विदा किया।

कुछ दूर चलने पर रास्ते में उन्हें बैलगाड़ी मिल गई। बैलगाड़ी का टूटा हुआ पहिया भी जुड़ा हुआ था। दोनों उसमें बैठकर नगर की ओर चल दिए। साहुकार और उसकी पत्नी दोनों बुधवार को व्रत करते हुए आनंदपूर्वक जीवन-यापन करने लगे।

भगवान बुधदेव की अनुकम्पा से उनके घर में धन-संपत्ति की वर्षा होने लगी। जल्दी ही उनके जीवन में खुशियाँ ही खुशियाँ भर गईं। बुधवार का व्रत करने से स्त्री-पुरुषों के जीवन में सभी मंगलकामनाएँ पूरी होती हैं।

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Observing Wednesday fast increases the intellectual development of a person. And, the fast of Wednesday is also observed to get the auspicious results of the Mercury planet. Additionally this fast fulfills the desires and give wealth and happiness. After performing the fast, it is must to hear the fast story. All sorts of problems are removed on observing this fast and all wishes of life can be fulfilled.

Beginning of Wednesday fasting should be done from first Wednesday of Shukla Paksha of any month. This fast is kept continuously for 21 Wednesdays. Observing this fast increase wealth, wisdom and profit in business. On the day of fast, after bathing green colored clothes should be wore. And, in early morning, Lord Bhud (mercury) should be worshiped. After this Vishnu Sahastrnaam should be read.

Method of Wednesday Fast - 
Person observing this fast should wake up before sunrise. Then he should clean the house. After this, he should complete his routine work like bathing etc. Later on he should purify the whole house by sprinkling Ganga Jal. In case of no Ganga Jal, any water from some holy river can be used.

In a peaceful place of Ishan Kon (North-East direction) of house, an idol of Lord Budh or Shankar, else a picture in a utensil of pewter should be placed. After placing the picture or idol, perform the Puja with incense stick, Bel leaves, Akshat and lamp of ghee. After that, the following mantra should be chanted and Budh Dev should be worshiped.

बुध त्वं बुद्धिजनको बोधद: सर्वदा नृणाम्।
तत्वावबोधं कुरुषे सोमपुत्र नमो नम:॥

After fasting the whole day, in the evening, once again Lord Budh is worshiped and Vrat Katha is heard. Then the Aarti should be performed. After sunset, Lord should be offered incense sticks, Deep, jaggery, Bhat (boiled rice), curd and then, Prasaad is distributed. At last the Prasadam is self eaten.

Significance of Wednesday Fasting -
Observing the fast of Wednesday increases the wisdom of the person. To earn profit in business as well, this fast is observed. This fast reduces the obstacles in the business area. Apart from this, people in whose Kundali Mercury is not able to give favorable results should observe this fast. This fast is beneficial for the ones in whose Kundali, Mercury is the Lord of inauspicious house.

Wednesday Fast : Things to Remember -
On this day, after Puja of Lord, Budh Dev should be worshipped with items of green color. In the evening after concluding the fast, as per the capacity the Brahmans should be gifted meal and alms. The person observing fast should have meal only once. Vrat should not be left in the middle. And, a person should not get up in the middle of listening Katha. Also, Prashad of fast must be eaten.

Wednesday Fast Story - Katha
A person named Madhusudan used to live in Samtapur Nagar. He was very rich. He was married to a beautiful and virtuous girl, Sangita of Balrampur. Once Madhusudan went to Balrampur on Wednesday to take his wife.

He asked the parents of his wife to do farewell of Sangita. Parents said “ Child today is Wednesday. Traveling for any auspicious work is not done on Wednesday.” But Madhusudan did not listen. He told that he did not believed in auspicious or unfavorable things. After lot of insisting, parents of Sangita had to do their farewell forcefully.

Both started their journey in a bullock cart. After covering a short distance, wheel of there cart broke down. From there, they started traveling by foot. In the way, Sangita felt thirsty. Madhusudan made her sit under and tree and went to bring water.

When Madhusudan came back with water, he was surprised to see a man of his face sitting near his wife. Sangita was also shocked looking at him, there was no difference in both of them.

Madhusudan asked that person “who are you and why are you sitting with my wife?” Man replied “Brother, this is my wife Sangita. I have brought her from my parents - in - laws house. But, who are you to ask me such a question?”

Madhusudan almost shouted and said “You are definitely a thief or a swindler. She is my wife Sangita. I had made her sit under the tree and went to bring water.”

Hearing this, the man said “O brother, you are lying. When Sangita was feeling thirsty, I went to bring water. I have already given her water. Now you be quiet and leave from here. Otherwise, I will call some soldier and get you caught.”

Both started fighting. Seeing them fighting many people gathered there. Some soldiers also came there. They caught the two men and took them to the king. After listening to the whole story, king also could not decide anything. Sangita was not able to identify her husband out of the two.

King said to put them both in prison. On the decision of king, the original Madhusudan got scared. Then a voice came from sky saying “Madhusudan ! You did not listen to the words of Sangita’s parents and made a departure on Wednesday. This all is happening due to the wrath of Budhdev.

Madusudan prayed to God Budhdev. He said “O Lord Budh Dev, please forgive me. I committed a big mistake, I will never do any travelling on Wednesday. And, every
Wednesday I will observe your fast.”

On praying, Lord Budh Dev forgave him. Immediately, his duplicate vanished from that place. King and other people got puzzled looking at this miracle. By this grace of Budh Dev, king did an honourable farewell of Madhusudan and his wife.

After walking some distance, they got the bullock cart, on their way. The broken wheel of the cart was repaired. Both sat in that and went to Samtapur. Both Madhusudan and Sangita started observing the fast of Wednesday and started spending their life happily.

By the blessing of Lord Budh Dev, there home was full of wealth and happiness. Observing the fast of Wednesday, fulfills all desires of men and women. And, person who observe this fast don’t face any problem in travelling on Wednesday for some important work.