Hartalika Teej is recognized as one of the most important Vrats in the Hindu religion. Married women primarily observe it for marital bliss and happiness.
It is celebrated on the Shukla Paksha Tritiya, i.e., the third day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. Here, we share with you about Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha and Date 2024.
As you may know, three Teej festivities are celebrated by women in Sawan and Bhadrapada months.
These Teej are as follows:
- Hariyali Teej
- Kajari Teej
- Hartalika Teej
Lord Shiva and Parvati are worshipped on the holy occasion of Hartalika Teej. Married women and unmarried girls both keep Hartalika Vrat. Widows, too, observe this fast.
It is kept without the intake of grains and water. Hindus believe Goddess Parvati was the first to keep this Vrat to have Lord Shiva as her husband. The most astonishing thing about this Vrat is that whosoever keeps the Hartalika Vrat once in her life has to keep it throughout life. However, if the woman is ill, her husband or another woman can keep this fast in her place.
Essential Rules to Follow during Hartalika Teej Vrat
- The most important rule during Hartalika Teej Vrat is that the Vrati (the one who keeps the fast) should not intake a single drop of water. However, the Vrati can have water the next day after the Vrat.
- If a person observes the Hartalika Teej Vrat, it cannot be left undone. This Vrat should be performed with proper rites and rituals.
- One should keep vigil at night (stay awake) on the day of Hartalika Teej Vrat. There is also a custom of celebrating while singing religious songs in groups.
- Hartalika Teej Vrat is observed by both unmarried girls as well as by married women. As per the Hindu scriptures, widows can also keep this fast.
- On this day, women sing and dance as well as conduct prayer rituals.
- This Vrat marks the joyous reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
- Fasting is the most important part of Hartalika Teej Puja.
- Women who keep this fast abstain from having food and do not drink a single drop of water for a full 24 hours till they break the fast the next day
- Married women keep fast for blissful marital relationships and the long life of their husbands.
- Unmarried girls keep the fast for getting a husband like Lord Shiva.
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Spiritual Significance of Hartalika Teej Vrat
The legend of Hartalika Teej Vrat is connected with Mata Sati, who immolated herself over the sacred fire performed by Daksha Prajapati. The loss of Mata Sati shattered Lord Mahadeva, who went into a deep meditation.
It was Mata Sati who reincarnated as Parvati in the form of Parvat Raj’s daughter. The first word that she uttered was ‘Shiva.’ Her only wish was to get married to Lord Shiva.
Parvati left the entire materialistic well-being of the palace to live a life of ascetic worshipping Shiva Lingam in a cave.
She performed immense tapas for 108 years. Ultimately Lord Shiva was pleased by her devotion and agreed to marry Goddess Parvati. So, the reunion of Lord Shiva and Parvati was complete.
Hartalika Teej has its name due to this legend associated with it. Hartalika is a combination of “Harat” and “Aalika,” meaning “abduction” and “female friend,” respectively. According to this legend, the friend of Goddess Parvati took her amidst the dense forest so that her father could not marry her against her wish to Lord Vishnu.
So, Hartalika Teej is celebrated as the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati performed immense austerity so that she could get Lord Shiva as her husband.
It is said that Mata Parvati performed severe austerity along the banks of the river Ganges on the Himalayas. One day, Sage Narad came with a marriage proposal for her on behalf of Lord Vishnu. However, Parvati told Narad that she wanted to marry Lord Shiva.
So, she wanted to please Lord Shiva by performing deep austerity. Later, she moved to the forest and immersed herself completely in the devotion to Lord Shiva.
In the Bhadrapada month, she made a Shiva Lingam out of the sand and started worshipping it in the Hasta Nakshatra on the Shukla Paksha Tritiya.
Finally, Lord Shiva was pleased by Goddess Parvati’s extreme austerity and came before her in his divine manifestation to accept Goddess Parvati as his wife.
The Hartalika Vrat started in which married women and young girls kept fast for their husband’s well-being and for getting good husbands, respectively. They endeavor to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati by worshipping them.
This fast is also called “Nishivasar Nirjala Vrat.”
Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva are worshipped on this day. It is said to be one of the most awaited festivals for Hindu married women. It is celebrated in different parts of the country, such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh.
Puja Vidhi of Hartalika Vrat Festival
- Take an early morning bath using sesame and Amalaki powder
- Dress up wearing fine clothes.
- Take Sankalp to perform Hartalika Vrat to please Goddess Parvati and Mahadeva.
- Firstly, worship Lord Ganesh
- Now, worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
- Perform Shodasopachar Pooja of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
- Lastly, perform Anga Puja for Goddess Parvati
Married women wear red-colored clothing and do Solah Srinagar. Then, they perform Shiva-Parvati Pooja in Shubh Muhurat and install statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lastly, they recite Hartalika Vrat Katha. Then, they offer “Suhaag” ornaments to Mata Parvati. Lord Shiva is believed to protect those who keep Hartalika Vrat with full devotion.
Vrati performs Ratri Jagran. They keep awake all night and indulge themselves in Bhajan and Kirtana. Then, they take a bath and perform Dana Karma to Suhagan, a “married woman,” by giving Shringar Samagri clothes, eatables, fruits, sweets, and even jewelry in the morning.
Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha
As per the Linga Purana, Goddess Parvati did immense Tapasya to please Lord Shiva. She wanted to marry Lord Shiva. Therefore, she never took any food materials. She solely lived on air alone. Her father was immensely moved to see this condition of Parvati.
Once, it so happened that Sage Narad approached the father of Mata Parvati with the marriage proposal on behalf of Lord Vishnu. When Goddess Parvati came to know about this, she wept profusely and said she was doing Tapa (Vrat) to get Lord Shiva as her husband.
However, her father wanted to marry Parvati to Shri Vishnu.
One friend of Parvati advised her to move to the forests for Tapasya. So, Parvati went to a dense jungle and meditated on Shiva in a cave.
She prepared Shiva Lingam out of sand in the Hasta Nakshatra of Bhadrapada Tritiya Shukla Paksha. She devoted herself completely to Lord Shiva.
After that, Lord Shiva got pleased with Parvati and accepted her as his wife.
So, those who do this Vrat get the blessings of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati. They live a happy and blissful marital life. Unmarried girls get devoted and loving husbands.
Hartalika Teej 2024 Date
Hartalika Teej will be celebrated on 6th September 2024, Friday.
Tritiya Tithi Begins: 12:21 PM on 05th September 2024
Tritiya Tithi Ends: at 03:01 PM on 06th September 2024
Hartalika Puja Muhurat: 06:02 AM to 08:33 AM
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