मंगलवार व्रत कथा

How the fast is kept
On Tuesday morning, bathe and wear clean clothes, red if you can. Think of Hanuman ji and take the vow of the fast.
Light a ghee lamp before Hanuman ji, offer red flowers and sindoor, and offer jaggery with roasted chana, or boondi, as bhog.
Read the Hanuman Chalisa and read or listen to this story with a calm mind.
In the evening, do the aarti and share the prasad. As your health allows, eat one meal that day; many families eat it without salt.

The story
This is a story from long ago. A Brahmin and his wife lived together. They had no child, and so both of them were very sad. One day the Brahmin went into the forest to worship and serve Hanuman ji. There he prayed every day and asked Mahavir Hanuman ji for a son.

At home, his wife, the Brahmani, also kept a fast every Tuesday, wishing for a son. On Tuesday she fasted all day. In the evening she cooked food, first offered it to Hanuman ji as bhog, and only then ate herself.

One Tuesday, for some reason, the Brahmani could neither cook nor offer bhog to Hanuman ji. That night she went to sleep hungry. In her heart she made a vow: “Now I will eat only next Tuesday, after offering bhog to Hanuman ji.” Because of this vow she stayed without food or water for six days. On the seventh day, a Tuesday, she fainted from weakness.

Hanuman ji was very pleased to see her dedication and true faith. He appeared before her and said, “Rise. I am pleased with your devotion. I give you a beautiful child, who will serve you well.” Saying this, Hanuman ji gave her a baby boy and vanished.

The Brahmani’s joy knew no bounds. She got up, offered bhog to Hanuman ji, and then ate. She named the boy Mangal. Mangal grew up happily, laughing and playing at home.

After some time the Brahmin came back from the forest. He saw a lovely child playing in the house and asked his wife, “Who is this child?” His wife happily told him, “Hanuman ji was pleased with my Tuesday fast. He appeared before me and gave me this child.”

But the Brahmin did not believe her. He felt his wife was hiding something and making up a story. Doubt clouded his mind.

One day the Brahmin was going to the well to fetch water. His wife said, “Take Mangal with you too.” The Brahmin took Mangal along. There, in his doubt, he did a very wrong thing. He dropped Mangal into the well, filled his water and came home alone.

As soon as he reached home, the Brahmani asked, “Where is Mangal?” Before the Brahmin could say anything, Mangal walked in behind him, smiling. Seeing him safe and sound, the Brahmin was stunned. By Hanuman ji’s grace, the child was not hurt at all.

That night Hanuman ji appeared to the Brahmin in a dream and said, “I am the one who gave this child to your wife. Why do you doubt her? She was telling the truth.”

As soon as he woke up, the Brahmin told his wife all about the dream and asked her forgiveness for his mistake. He hugged Mangal with love. Knowing the truth, his heart felt light and happy. After that, the Brahmin and the Brahmani both kept the Tuesday fast with faith, and lived happily with their son Mangal.

May Hanuman ji keep courage, faith and trust in one another in every heart.
Bolo Pavanputra Hanuman ki Jai! Siyavar Ramchandra ki Jai!