रविवार व्रत कथा (हिन्दी में)
एक गाँव में एक बुढ़िया रहती थी। वह हर रविवार सवेरे स्नान करके घर-आँगन को गोबर से लीपती, सूर्य देव की पूजा करती, कथा सुनती और फिर भोजन बनाकर भगवान को भोग लगाकर खाती। उसके पास अपनी गाय नहीं थी, इसलिए वह पड़ोसन की गाय का गोबर ले आती थी। सूर्य देव की कृपा से उसका घर धन-धान्य से भरा रहता था।
पड़ोसन उसकी समृद्धि देखकर जलती थी। एक शनिवार उसने अपनी गाय को घर के भीतर बाँध दिया ताकि बुढ़िया गोबर न ले जा सके। रविवार को बुढ़िया आँगन नहीं लीप पाई। दुःखी होकर उसने न भोजन बनाया, न भोग लगाया, और भूखी-प्यासी सो गई।
रात को सूर्य देव ने स्वप्न में दर्शन देकर कहा — "माता, तुमने आज भोजन क्यों नहीं किया?" बुढ़िया ने सारी बात बताई। सूर्य देव बोले — "मैं तुम्हें ऐसी गाय देता हूँ जो सब इच्छाएँ पूरी करेगी।" सुबह बुढ़िया ने देखा कि उसके आँगन में एक सुन्दर गाय और बछड़ा बँधे हैं। वह गाय सोने का गोबर देती थी।
पड़ोसन ने यह देख लिया। वह रोज़ सवेरे जल्दी उठकर सोने का गोबर उठा ले जाती और उसकी जगह अपनी गाय का गोबर रख देती। बुढ़िया को कुछ पता नहीं चला। तब सूर्य देव ने एक दिन शाम को तेज़ आँधी चलाई; बुढ़िया ने गाय को भीतर बाँध दिया, और सुबह उसने स्वयं सोने का गोबर देखा। अब वह गाय को रात में भीतर ही बाँधने लगी।
जलन से भरी पड़ोसन ने राजा से जाकर कहा — "महाराज, एक बुढ़िया के पास सोने का गोबर देने वाली गाय है; ऐसी गाय तो राजमहल में होनी चाहिए।" राजा ने गाय मँगवा ली। बुढ़िया ने दुःखी होकर सूर्य देव से प्रार्थना की। उसी रात राजमहल गोबर से भर गया और ऐसी दुर्गन्ध फैली कि सब परेशान हो गए।
सूर्य देव ने राजा को स्वप्न में कहा — "वह गाय उस भक्त बुढ़िया को मैंने दी है; उसे लौटा दो।" राजा ने गाय और बहुत-सा धन बुढ़िया को लौटा दिया और पड़ोसन को दण्ड दिया। फिर राजा ने पूरे राज्य में घोषणा कराई कि सब लोग रविवार का व्रत करें। जो कोई रविवार का व्रत करता है और यह कथा सुनता है, सूर्य देव उसे आरोग्य, यश और समृद्धि देते हैं।
॥ इति रविवार व्रत कथा सम्पूर्ण ॥ बोलो सूर्य देव की जय!
The story of Ravivar Vrat Katha in English
In a village lived an old woman. Every Sunday she bathed early, smeared her courtyard with cow dung, worshipped Surya, heard the katha, and ate only after offering her cooking to the Lord. She had no cow of her own, so she took cow dung from her neighbour's cow. By Surya's grace her home was always full.
The neighbour was jealous of her prosperity. One Saturday she tied her cow inside the house so the old woman could not take the dung. On Sunday the old woman could not smear her courtyard. Saddened, she neither cooked nor made an offering, and went to sleep hungry.
That night Surya appeared to her in a dream and asked: "Mother, why did you not eat today?" She told him everything. Surya said: "I will give you a cow that will fulfil all your wishes." In the morning she found a beautiful cow and calf tied in her courtyard. The cow gave dung of gold.
The neighbour saw this. Every morning she rose early, took the golden dung and left her own cow's dung in its place, and the old woman knew nothing of it. Then one evening Surya sent a fierce storm; the old woman tied the cow inside, and in the morning she saw the golden dung herself. From then on she kept the cow inside at night.
Burning with jealousy, the neighbour went to the king: "Your Majesty, an old woman has a cow that gives golden dung — such a cow belongs in the palace." The king had the cow brought to the palace. The old woman prayed sorrowfully to Surya. That night the palace filled with dung and such a stench that everyone was in distress.
Surya told the king in a dream: "I gave that cow to my devoted old woman; return it." The king returned the cow to her with much wealth and punished the neighbour. Then he proclaimed throughout the kingdom that everyone should keep the Sunday fast. Whoever keeps the Sunday vrat and hears this katha, Surya grants health, fame and prosperity.
This is the Sunday katha as found in popular Hindi vrat-katha books; it is a folk katha. The katha is retold here in our own words; families and printed booklets tell it with small differences.
How to keep the Ravivar vrat
- Sankalp. Start on a Sunday in the bright half of the month. Bathe before sunrise and take a sankalp for 12 Sundays, a year, or as vowed.
- Arghya to the Sun. Offer water to the rising Sun from a copper vessel, with red flowers, akshat and a little red sandal or roli, chanting a Surya mantra.
- Katha and recitation. Hear the Ravivar katha; many also recite the Aditya Hridayam or the twelve names of Surya.
- One meal before sunset. Eat once, before sunset, food without salt — often wheat and jaggery. Some avoid oil too.
Food: One meal before sunset, without salt, often wheat with jaggery or ghee.
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 Sundays, do the udyapan: worship Surya with red flowers and red sandal, offer wheat, jaggery and a red cloth, feed brahmins or the needy, and give dakshina.
Mantra and aarti
Surya mantra
ॐ घृणिः सूर्याय नमः ॥
oṃ ghṛṇiḥ sūryāya namaḥ ||
Om, salutations to Surya, the radiant one. Chant it while offering arghya, and 108 times through the day.
Frequently asked questions
Why is salt avoided on the Ravivar fast?
It is the traditional rule of the Sunday fast in North India: one meal before sunset without salt. Follow your family custom and your health.
How is arghya offered to Surya?
Stand facing the rising Sun and pour water slowly from a copper vessel held at chest height, looking at the Sun through the stream, while chanting a Surya mantra.
What is the Ravivar vrat kept for?
For good health (especially of eyes and skin), confidence, success, a good name and the removal of difficulties.