Solah Somvar Vrat Katha
The story of the sixteen-Monday vrat of Lord Shiva
The Solah Somvar Vrat is a fast kept on sixteen consecutive Mondays in honour of Lord Shiva, famed for fulfilling sincere wishes — especially for a good marriage, marital harmony and children. The devotee bathes, worships the Shivalinga with water, bel-patra, and white flowers, eats a single sattvic meal, and on the seventeenth Monday performs the udyapan by preparing churma (or sweet prasad) and distributing it. This is the katha recited during the vrat.
The Game of Dice in the Temple
Once Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were wandering the earth and came to a beautiful and richly adorned Shiva temple in the city of Amaravati. To pass the time, Parvati playfully proposed a game of chaupar (dice). The temple priest was called to umpire the game. Parvati clearly won; but the priest, hoping to please the Lord, falsely declared Shiva the winner.
Angered by his untruth, Parvati cursed the priest to be afflicted with leprosy. He suffered greatly for many years. In time a group of celestial apsaras, who had come to worship at the temple, saw his pitiable state and asked the cause. Hearing his tale, they took pity and counselled him: 'Keep the Solah Somvar vrat of Lord Shiva with complete faith, and the merciful Lord will surely free you from this affliction.'
The Vrat that Fulfils Every Wish
The priest kept the Solah Somvar vrat exactly as taught, worshipping the Shivalinga each Monday and performing the udyapan on the seventeenth. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Shiva cured him completely of his leprosy, and he became whole and well again.
Some time later Parvati returned to the temple and, astonished to find the priest healed, asked how it had come about. He told Her of the Solah Somvar vrat and its power. Parvati Herself then kept the vrat with a wish in Her heart — and by its merit Her son Kartikeya, who had been estranged from Her, was lovingly reconciled and returned. When Kartikeya asked his mother how this reunion had come to pass, She told him of the vrat; he kept it, and was reunited with a dear friend long lost to him. That friend in turn kept the Solah Somvar vrat and was blessed with a beautiful and virtuous wife. Thus whoever keeps the sixteen-Monday vrat of Lord Shiva with faith has every sincere wish fulfilled. 'Om Namah Shivaya.'
The Fruit of the Vrat
The Solah Somvar vrat of Lord Shiva is kept to obtain a suitable life-partner, marital happiness, children, and the removal of obstacles and sorrows. Unmarried girls keep it praying for a good husband; couples for harmony and progeny. Its power, the katha shows, reaches even to reconciling the estranged and healing the afflicted.
Mantras & Aarti for this Puja
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Solah Somvar vrat begun?
It can be started on any Monday, though the Mondays of the holy month of Shravan, or the first Monday of the bright fortnight, are considered especially auspicious. It runs for sixteen consecutive Mondays, concluded by an udyapan on the seventeenth.
How is the Solah Somvar vrat kept?
On each of the sixteen Mondays the devotee bathes early, worships the Shivalinga with water, milk, bel-patra and white flowers, hears the katha, and takes a single sattvic meal. On the seventeenth Monday, churma or sweet prasad is prepared and shared to complete the vrat.
What wishes does the Solah Somvar vrat grant?
It is especially kept for a good marriage and a suitable partner, for harmony between husband and wife, and for children — but, as the katha teaches, Lord Shiva fulfils every sincere wish offered with faith.