Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha – Story in English

Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha (Story)

The Santoshi Mata Vrat is observed on Fridays. This fast is observed with devotion for happiness, peace, contentment, and the fulfilment of sincere wishes. During the fast, jaggery and roasted gram are offered to Santoshi Mata, and sour foods are avoided.

Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha

Long ago, in a certain town, an old woman lived with her seven sons. Six of her sons earned a living, while the seventh son did not do any work. The old woman lovingly prepared food for her six sons and fed them to their satisfaction. Whatever was left over from their meals was given to the seventh son.

One day, the seventh son said to his wife, “Look! How much my mother loves me.” His wife replied, “Of course! She does. She feeds you the leftovers of everyone else’s food.” Hearing this, he was deeply hurt and said, “This cannot be true. I will not believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

Some time later, a festival arrived. Various delicious dishes and churma laddoos were prepared in the house. To discover the truth, the seventh son pretended to have a headache, covered himself with a thin cloth, and lay down in the kitchen. From there, he watched everything. All six brothers came to eat. The old woman laid out beautiful seats for them, served them various dishes, and lovingly fed them. After they had finished eating, she collected the pieces of laddoo left in their used plates and made one laddoo from them.

Then she called her seventh son and said, “Son, your six brothers have finished eating. Now you are the only one left. Get up and have your meal.” Seeing this, he was deeply saddened and said, “Mother, I will not eat now. I am leaving for a distant land.” His mother said, “If you have to leave tomorrow, then go today.” He replied, “Yes, I am leaving today.”

The Seventh Son Leaves for a Distant Land

As he was leaving the house, he remembered his wife. She was in the cowshed, making cow-dung cakes. He went to her and said:

I am leaving for a distant land; I shall return after some time.
Live patiently and contentedly, and continue to follow your duties.

His wife replied:

Go, my beloved, happily, and do not worry about me.
I shall live trusting in God; may He always protect you.

Give me something as a token, so that I may keep it close to my heart.
Do not forget me; keep me always in your thoughts.

The husband said, “I have nothing with me. You may keep this ring, and you too give me something as a token of remembrance.” She replied, “What do I have to give you? I only have this hand covered with cow dung.” Saying this, she placed the imprint of her cow-dung-covered hand on her husband’s back. He carried this token of his wife with him and left for the distant land.

His Work and Success in a Distant Land

After reaching the distant land, he went to a wealthy merchant’s shop and asked for work. The merchant employed him. He worked with dedication and honesty. Gradually, he became skilled in handling the shop’s transactions, accounts, and customers, and performed all his duties efficiently.

The merchant was greatly impressed by his hard work and intelligence and soon made him a partner in the business profits. Within a few years, he became a successful and wealthy trader, and the merchant entrusted his entire business to him.

The Wife’s Suffering in His Absence

Meanwhile, his wife had to endure the cruelty of her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and other members of the family. She was made to do all the household chores and was sent into the forest to collect firewood. She was given rotis made from the husk separated from the household flour and water in a broken coconut shell.

One day, while she was going to the forest to collect firewood, she saw some women observing the Santoshi Mata Vrat. She stopped there and listened to their story.

Learning About the Santoshi Mata Vrat

She asked the women, “Sisters, which goddess are you worshipping? What benefits does this fast bring? Please tell me how I too can observe this fast.” The women replied, “Sister, we are observing the Santoshi Mata Vrat. This fast is observed every Friday. Worshipping Santoshi Mata removes sorrow and poverty, and sincere wishes are fulfilled by the grace of the Mother.”

She asked them about the method of observing the fast. They explained, “On Friday, take a bath in the morning, wear clean clothes, and worship Santoshi Mata with devotion. Offer jaggery and roasted gram to the Mother. Listen to or read the Vrat Katha and perform the aarti at the end before accepting the prasad. On the day of the fast, you must not eat sour foods, nor should you give sour foods to anyone.”

They further said, “When your wish is fulfilled, perform the Udyapan of the fast with devotion. On the day of the Udyapan, feed children and offer them fruits, prasad, or a donation according to your means. Remember that sour foods must not be served during the Udyapan either.” Hearing this, she was very happy and took a resolution to observe the Santoshi Mata Vrat.

The Grace of Santoshi Mata

She would sell the bundles of firewood she collected and use the money to buy jaggery and gram. Every Friday, she began observing the Santoshi Mata Vrat with devotion. Santoshi Mata was pleased with her devotion. One Friday, a letter arrived from her husband, and the following Friday, money sent by her husband also reached her.

But she desired the sight of her husband more than wealth. She went to the temple of Santoshi Mata and, weeping, said, “Mother, I did not ask you for wealth. I only wish to see my husband and be reunited with him.” Pleased with her devotion, the Mother said, “Go, daughter. Your husband will return soon.”

Santoshi Mata Inspires Her Husband to Return Home

Santoshi Mata appeared to her husband in a dream and said, “My son, your wife is suffering greatly, and your parents are causing her much sorrow. She longs for you. Now, you must take care of her.” The husband replied, “Mother, I wish to return, but how can I leave without completing the accounts of my business here?” The Mother said, “Follow my words. In the morning, take a bath, remember Santoshi Mata, light a lamp, and then go to your shop.”

By the Mother’s grace, all his pending transactions were completed and his business affairs were settled. He was delighted and set out for his home.

The Husband Returns Home

Meanwhile, every day, his wife would rest at the temple of Santoshi Mata while returning from the forest with her bundle of firewood. The Mother gave her a sign that her husband was on his way and instructed her to make three bundles of firewood — one near the river, one near the Mother’s temple, and one to carry on her head.

After some time, her husband arrived there. Seeing the bundle of firewood, he stopped there, ate his meal, rested for a while, and then continued towards the village. At the same time, his wife reached home carrying her bundle of firewood and called out, “Here, Mother-in-law, take this bundle of firewood. Give me a roti made from husk and water in a coconut shell. Who is the guest who has arrived today?”

Her mother-in-law replied, “Daughter-in-law, why do you say that? Your husband himself has returned.” The husband recognised his wife, and seeing the ring, he was certain that she was indeed his wife. He told his mother that he would live separately with his wife. He soon built a beautiful and comfortable home for them, and his wife began living there happily.

The First Udyapan of the Friday Vrat

Some time later, Friday arrived. The wife said to her husband, “I wish to perform the Udyapan of the Santoshi Mata Vrat.” Her husband happily gave her permission. She went to invite the children of the family to the feast. Her sister-in-law instructed her children to ask for sour food after the meal.

The children ate their meal and afterwards asked for something sour. The wife refused to give them sour food because consuming sour food during the Udyapan of the fast was prohibited. However, the children insisted, so she gave them some money. They used the money to buy tamarind and other sour foods and ate them.

Because the rules of the Mother’s Udyapan had not been properly observed, the king’s messengers came and took her husband away. She was deeply distressed.

Seeking Forgiveness from Santoshi Mata

Weeping, she went to the temple of Santoshi Mata and said, “O Mother! What mistake have I made? Please forgive me.” The Mother said, “Daughter, you did not follow the rules of my Vrat during the Udyapan.” She replied, “Mother, I made a mistake. I did not tell the children to eat sour food, but they took the money and bought sour food themselves. Please forgive me. I will perform the Udyapan of your Vrat again.” The Mother said, “Do not make this mistake again.”

She promised the Mother that this time she would perform the Udyapan with complete faith and devotion. By the Mother’s grace, she met her husband on the way, and he safely returned home.

The Second Udyapan of the Vrat

Some time later, Friday came again. She decided to perform the Udyapan of the Santoshi Mata Vrat once more. This time too, her sister-in-law encouraged her children to ask for sour food. But the wife firmly said, “No one will be given sour food. Whoever wishes to eat may have the meal without sour food.”

She fed the children of the Brahmins and, according to her means, gave them fruits and a donation. This time, she followed all the rules of the Vrat, and Santoshi Mata was pleased with her.

Santoshi Mata’s Blessings

By the grace of Santoshi Mata, she was blessed with a beautiful son. She began taking her son to the temple of Santoshi Mata every day. One day, the Mother thought, “This devotee comes to my temple every day. Today, I shall go to her home myself.”

The Mother took on a simple yet fearsome appearance and went to her home. Her mother-in-law and the other members of the family did not recognise her and became frightened upon seeing her. But the daughter-in-law recognised the Mother immediately. She was overjoyed and said, “Mother! Santoshi Mata Herself has come to my home.” She fell at the Mother’s feet.

Then all the members of the family realised their mistake. They held Santoshi Mata’s feet and begged for forgiveness, saying, “O Mother of the Universe! We were ignorant. We have committed a great offence by disrespecting your Vrat. Please forgive us.” Santoshi Mata was pleased and blessed them all.

May Santoshi Mata fulfil the sincere wishes of every devotee who observes Her Vrat with faith and devotion, listens to this sacred Vrat Katha, and follows its rules.

॥ Bolo Santoshi Mata Ki Jai ॥

Rules of the Fast

• On the day of the fast, do not eat anything sour (khatai), nor offer it to others.
• The fast is usually kept for sixteen consecutive Fridays, or until the wish is fulfilled.
• When the wish is fulfilled, perform the concluding ritual (udyapan) properly.
• Observe the fast in a spirit of faith and contentment — that is its essence.

Read also: Santoshi Maa Aarti (in English)

Frequently Asked Questions

On which day is the Santoshi Mata fast observed?

The Santoshi Mata fast is observed on Fridays.

Why is sour food avoided during this fast?

It is believed that sour food (khatai) breaks the vow, so eating anything sour is avoided on the day of the fast.

For how many Fridays should the fast be kept?

It is usually kept for sixteen Fridays or until the wish is fulfilled, after which the udyapan (concluding ritual) is performed.