Kedareswara

Vratham
Story in English

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At Kailash, Parameswar and Parvati were seated in
thrones made of nine kind of gems. Brahma,
Vishnu, Devendran and thousands of devas, Rishis,
Gandharvas come and do pradikshina
(Circumambulation from left to right) and seek
their blessings. One Rishi named Birungi prayed
only to Lord Shiva, circumambulate him alone and
ignored the Devi.
Parvathi devi got angry about this Rishi's behavior
and asked Parameshwar, if all these devatas come
and pray both of us, why this Rishi seeks your
blessing alone? Shiva replied, "Oh daughter of
Parvarda (hence named Parvathi), Birungi Rishi
does not seek prosperity, but liberation (Moksha),
hence he is seeking only my blessings". Hearing
this, Parvathi turned her attention to Birungi and
said, Oh Rishi, since you ignored me, i'm going to
take away your power (strength/sakthi), and she

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took it with her weapon. Without any strength,
Birungi Rishi couldn't walk and fell down.
When shiva saw Birungi lying on the floor, he asked
Birungi what happened. The Rishi replied it was
due to him not praying to Shakthi, she took away
his strength. The ever compassionate Shiva gave
him a stick to support himself. Grateful for the
help, the Rishi circumambulated shiva with the
help of the stick and left to his ashram. Parvathi
devi was mad at Shiva and said to him, "If you were
not supportive of me, this is not the place for me
to stay" and she stormed out of Kailash for earth.
She appeared in a forest where Rishi Valmiki has
set up his Ashram. It was a surprise to the
residents that the whole place is vibrant and full of
energy after a long time. Wondering what is going
on, the Rishi found the supreme mother resting
under a tree. The Rishi worshipped the goddess
and welcomed her into his Ashram. He was curious
to know the appearance of the supreme mother in
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earth. The goddess explained what happened in
Kailash and decided to get away for a while. She
then enquired the Rishi about any unique vrat
(vow) available on this earth that she can perform.
Valmiki Rishi replied, "Yes mother, there is a unique
and a powerful Vratham known, but has not been
performed by anyone yet. That vratham is called
Kedareeswarar Nombu (Vratham)". If you perform
this Vratham, all your wishes will come true.
Hearing this, Goddess Parvathi became happy and
wanted to how to perform this vratham.
Valmiki Rishi explains: Staring from Purattasi
Dasami thithi (eighth day) in growing moon (mid-
September to mid-October after amavasya) till
Deepavali amavaysa (mid-October to mid-
November) one should perform this vratham for 21
days. Each day, after taking bath and wearing clean
clothes, perform abisheka for the Shiva linga under
the banyan tree (Or in their own home), decorate
with vibuthi, sandal and flowers. Make small
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rounds of sandal, jaggery, turmeric and place it
before the linga. Adhirasam, banana, coconut,
betel leaves (Vettrilai), areca nut (pakku) should be
kept for Neiveidhiya and do Aarthi. Make a
cord/rope made of 21 threads, and each day tie
one knot. If you follow this vow religiously for
twenty one days and pray to Parameshwar, he will
appear and grant your wishes.
Parvathi Devi decided to perform this Vratham,
and did so for twenty one days. Lord Parameshwar
appeared with his Deva ganas and gave half his
body to Parvathi devi and became as
Arthaneeswarar (Half-shiva, Half-Parvathi). This
symbolizes there is no Shiva without Sakthi. They
are inseparable.
Knowing the power of this Vratham, all the devas
and rishis performed this regularly. Once when
celestial maids (Devakannis) were performing this
pooja in river banks of Ganges, two daughters -
Punniyavathi and Bakkiyavathi of a king who lost
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his kingdom recently saw them and enquired
about this. They explained the vrat and gave them
prasad and the sacred thread. When they returned
home, miracle had happened and their father
reclaimed the kingdom. The girls got married soon
and were living a happy life.
After few years, Bakkiyavathi, threw away the
sacred thread (Nombu kayiru) on the beans plant
and forgot about it. Soon after, they lost their
kingdom to the neighbouring king and had to live
in forest in hiding. The beans were abundant
where the thread fell and they used it to feed
themselves. Suffering in poverty, she asked her
son to visit her big-mother Punniyavathi and get
some help. Punniyavathi hearing the full story, took
pity, and kept the boy for few days to stay with her.
She gave him some food and money to help her
sister. On the way back home, an eagle (Parunthu -
white breasted eagle) took away the bag. The boy
went back to Punniavathi's house crying and
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explained what happened. She was kind, and
provided him food, money and jewels and sent him
home. this time, a thief stole the goods. When the
boy came back to the big mother's house crying,
she enquired if his mother is doing the
Kedareeswarara Nombu regularly.
The boy replied, No, and said all these ill fortune
occurred when she stopped doing the vratam.
Since the time was close to Diwali, Punniyavathi
kept the boy till the pooja and prepared extra
threads for her sisters family. She gave him some
food and money and sent few bodyguards with
him. On the way back, the thief returned the stolen
goods and the eagle dropped his bag back. The
eagle said, the ill-fortune to the family is due to his
mother stopped performing the Vrat. The boy
hearing this was astonished and rushed back
home. In time, the king who grabbed the land gave
it back to them. The boy explained the whole thing
to his mother. Bakkiyavathi realized the fault in
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missing the vratham and vowed to continue to
perform it thereafter. They were blessed with all
fortune.
The belief is that for single women who perform
this vratham will get married soon. Married
women perform this vratham for the good and
healthy life of their husband. Like Arthanareeswar,
the husband-wife will be inseparable.
May Arthanareeswar shower all the blessing and
life long happiness to those who perform this
Kedara gowri vratham.

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