Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha
The story of the Shukravar (Friday) vrat of the Mother of Contentment
Santoshi Mata, the Goddess of Contentment, is worshipped on sixteen consecutive Fridays (Shukravar) for the fulfilment of wishes, family harmony and freedom from want. The vrat is famously simple: the devotee takes only one meal, offers gur (jaggery) and roasted chana, and — most importantly — neither eats nor serves anything sour (khatta) on that day. The following katha is recited during the puja and at the udyapan (concluding ceremony).
The Neglected Daughter-in-Law
In a certain town there lived an old woman with her seven sons — six of whom earned well, while the seventh was simple and out of work. The old mother served fresh food to her six elder sons and quietly gave the youngest only the leftovers mixed together. In his innocence he never noticed, but his wife saw how cruelly they were both treated and grieved in silence.
One day the wife spoke to her husband of the injustice. Stung, he resolved to go abroad to seek his fortune and prove himself. Before leaving he asked his wife for a token; she gave him an imprint of her hand smeared with cow-dung, blessing him. He travelled far, found work with a merchant, and through honest labour slowly began to prosper — while at home his wife was reduced to drudgery, fetching wood and grinding grain for the household.
The Vow to Santoshi Mata
Worn down by suffering, the young wife went one Friday to a temple where women were performing the Santoshi Mata vrat. She asked them its method, and they told her: 'Keep the fast each Friday with a pure heart; offer gur and chana worth a quarter measure; take but one meal; and on no account eat anything sour, nor give sour to anyone that day. The Mother of Contentment will surely fulfil your wish.'
With deep faith the wife began the vrat, praying only that her husband return safe and prosperous. Pleased by her devotion and contentment, Santoshi Mata set to work. In a dream She inspired the husband to remember his home and his faithful wife. His business flourished beyond measure, and at last he resolved to return.
The Test of Contentment and the Udyapan
The husband returned home wealthy, and by the Mother's grace the couple's days of sorrow ended. In gratitude the wife resolved to perform the udyapan of her sixteen-Friday vrat, feeding Brahmins and offering kheer and puri — but no sour food. Her jealous sisters-in-law, however, secretly gave the children money to demand something sour, so that the children cried for tamarind and the vrat seemed spoiled.
Santoshi Mata, displeased at this breaking of Her rule, sent misfortune — the husband was summoned by the king's men. The frightened wife prayed and begged forgiveness, vowing to complete the udyapan correctly. The Mother relented; she performed the puja again with full devotion and not a trace of anything sour, distributing only kheer and puri. Santoshi Mata was pleased; the trouble passed, and in due course the couple were blessed with a beautiful son. Thus whoever keeps the Santoshi Mata vrat with faith and contentment, avoiding all that is sour, has every wish fulfilled. 'Jai Santoshi Maa.'
The Fruit of the Vrat
Keeping the sixteen-Friday Santoshi Mata vrat with a contented heart is said to remove poverty and family discord, bring harmony between husband and wife, grant children and fulfil sincere wishes. The essence of the vrat is santosh — contentment — and the strict avoidance of anything sour on the fast day.
Mantras & Aarti for this Puja
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is sour (khatta) food forbidden during the Santoshi Mata vrat?
On the Friday of the vrat the devotee must not eat, touch for cooking, or give anyone anything sour — tamarind, lemon, curd or pickle. In the katha, the breaking of this rule brings the Mother's displeasure, so it is observed strictly as the heart of the vrat.
How many Fridays is the Santoshi Mata vrat kept?
It is usually kept for sixteen consecutive Fridays (or until the wish is fulfilled), concluded with an udyapan in which Brahmins or young boys are fed kheer and puri — again, with nothing sour.
What is offered to Santoshi Mata?
A simple offering of gur (jaggery) and roasted chana (gram), worth a quarter measure, is offered and later shared. The simplicity reflects the Goddess's nature as the Mother of Contentment.