बुधवार व्रत कथा (हिन्दी में)
एक नगर में मधुसूदन नाम का एक धनी व्यक्ति रहता था। उसका विवाह संगीता नाम की सुन्दर और गुणवती कन्या से हुआ था। एक बार संगीता अपने मायके गई हुई थी। कुछ दिनों बाद मधुसूदन उसे लिवाने ससुराल पहुँचा। वह बुधवार का दिन था।
मधुसूदन ने उसी दिन पत्नी को लेकर लौटने की इच्छा प्रकट की। सास-ससुर ने समझाया — "बेटा, आज बुधवार है। बुधवार को किसी शुभ काम के लिए, विशेषकर बहू-बेटी को विदा करके यात्रा पर नहीं निकलते।" पर मधुसूदन नहीं माना और संगीता को लेकर बैलगाड़ी से चल पड़ा।
रास्ते में गाड़ी का एक पहिया टूट गया। दोनों पैदल चलने लगे। कुछ दूर जाकर संगीता को प्यास लगी। मधुसूदन उसे एक पेड़ के नीचे बिठाकर पानी लेने गया। जब वह लौटा तो देखा कि ठीक उसके जैसा दिखने वाला, वैसे ही कपड़े पहने एक पुरुष संगीता के पास बैठा है और संगीता उसी से बातें कर रही है।
मधुसूदन ने क्रोध में पूछा — "तुम कौन हो जो मेरी पत्नी के पास बैठे हो?" उस पुरुष ने कहा — "यह मेरी पत्नी है। मैं इसे ससुराल से लेकर आ रहा हूँ।" दोनों झगड़ने लगे। संगीता भी पहचान नहीं पा रही थी कि उसका असली पति कौन है। शोर सुनकर राजा के सिपाही आ गए और दोनों को पकड़ लिया।
मधुसूदन समझ गया कि यह बुधवार को यात्रा करने की हठ का फल है। उसने मन ही मन बुध देव से प्रार्थना की — "हे बुध देव, मुझसे भूल हुई। मुझे क्षमा करें। आगे से मैं बुधवार का व्रत करूँगा और ऐसी भूल नहीं करूँगा।" उसकी प्रार्थना पूरी होते ही वह दूसरा पुरुष अदृश्य हो गया।
सिपाही और सब लोग आश्चर्य में पड़ गए। मधुसूदन और संगीता सकुशल घर लौटे। उस दिन से दोनों नियम से बुधवार का व्रत करने लगे और सुखपूर्वक रहे। जो कोई बुधवार का व्रत करता है और यह कथा सुनता है, उसकी यात्रा सफल होती है और घर में सुख-शान्ति रहती है।
॥ इति बुधवार व्रत कथा सम्पूर्ण ॥ बोलो बुध देव की जय!
The story of Budhvar Vrat Katha in English
In a city lived a wealthy man named Madhusudan, married to Sangeeta, a beautiful and virtuous young woman. Once Sangeeta had gone to stay with her parents. After some days Madhusudan went to bring her home. It was a Wednesday.
He wished to leave with his wife that same day. His parents-in-law advised him: "Son, today is Wednesday. One does not set out on a journey on a Wednesday, especially when sending a daughter away." But Madhusudan would not listen and set off with Sangeeta in a bullock cart.
On the way a wheel of the cart broke, and they continued on foot. Some way on, Sangeeta grew thirsty. Madhusudan seated her under a tree and went to fetch water. When he returned, he saw a man who looked exactly like him, dressed exactly like him, sitting beside Sangeeta and talking with her.
Angry, Madhusudan demanded: "Who are you, sitting with my wife?" The man replied: "She is my wife. I am bringing her home from her parents' house." The two began to quarrel. Sangeeta herself could not tell which was her real husband. Hearing the noise, the king's soldiers came and seized them both.
Madhusudan understood that this was the result of insisting on travelling on a Wednesday. In his heart he prayed: "O Budh dev, I have done wrong. Forgive me. From now on I will keep the Wednesday fast and never repeat this mistake." As soon as he finished his prayer, the other man vanished.
The soldiers and everyone around were amazed. Madhusudan and Sangeeta reached home safely, and from that day they kept the Wednesday fast regularly and lived happily. Whoever keeps the Wednesday vrat and hears this katha has successful journeys and peace at home.
This is the Wednesday katha as found in popular Hindi vrat-katha books; it is a folk katha about Budh, the planet Mercury, son of the Moon. The katha is retold here in our own words; families and printed booklets tell it with small differences.
How to keep the Budhvar vrat
- Sankalp. Start on a Wednesday in the bright half of the month. Bathe, wear green if you can, and take a sankalp for 7, 21 or 45 Wednesdays.
- Worship. Worship Ganesha first, then Budh dev (or Vishnu), with green moong, durva grass, green or white flowers, incense and a lamp.
- Katha and aarti. Read the Budhvar katha and do the aarti of Ganesha, "Jai Ganesh Deva".
- One meal. Eat once, after the puja — often a dish of green moong, or sweet food. Give green moong or green cloth in charity.
Food: One meal, often made of moong dal; many avoid salt.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and anyone with a medical condition should keep a lighter fast. Customs differ between families and regions — follow your own tradition.
Udyapan (completing the vrat)
After the vowed Wednesdays, do the udyapan: worship Ganesha and Budh with full rites, offer green moong and green cloth, feed brahmins or the needy, and give dakshina.
Mantra and aarti
Budh mantra
ॐ बुं बुधाय नमः ॥
oṃ buṃ budhāya namaḥ ||
Om, salutations to Budh (Mercury), giver of intelligence and good speech. Chant it 108 times on Wednesday.
Frequently asked questions
Who is worshipped on Wednesday?
Budh dev, the planet Mercury, and Ganesha. In some regions Vishnu or Krishna (Vitthal) is worshipped on Wednesday.
Why is travel on Wednesday considered inauspicious in the katha?
It is a folk belief in parts of North India that one should not send a daughter or daughter-in-law away on a Wednesday; the katha uses it to teach respect for elders' advice. Many people do travel on Wednesdays.
What should be donated on Budhvar?
Green moong, green vegetables, green cloth or fodder for cows are traditional.