हरतालिका तीज व्रत कथा
पार्वती ने तप से भगवान शिव को पति रूप में कैसे प्राप्त किया
हरतालिका तीज भाद्रपद मास के शुक्ल पक्ष की तृतीया को आती है। कुमारी कन्याएँ व सुहागिन स्त्रियाँ निर्जल व्रत रखकर भगवान शिव व माता पार्वती की पूजा करती हैं और सुयोग्य वर तथा अखंड सौभाग्य की कामना करती हैं। नाम 'हरत' (पार्वती को ले जाने वाली सखी) और 'आलिका' (सहेली) से बना है। यह पार्वती के तप की कथा है, जो शिव ने स्वयं पार्वती को सुनाई।
पार्वती का संकल्प और सखी का सहयोग
In a former birth, Parvati was the daughter of Himavan, king of the mountains. From childhood her heart was set upon Lord Shiva alone, and to win Him as her husband she undertook the severest penance — fasting, enduring heat and cold, living on leaves and at times on air. Seeing her body waste away, her father Himavan was distressed.
The sage Narada then came to Himavan with a proposal that Parvati be married to Lord Vishnu, and her father, thinking it a great match, agreed. But when Parvati learned of this, she was filled with anguish, for she had vowed to wed only Shiva. She confided her sorrow to her dearest friend (sakhi), who, to save her from a marriage against her heart, carried her away (harat) to a secluded cave in a dense forest, where Parvati could continue her devotion undisturbed.
रेत का शिवलिंग और शिव का वरदान
Deep in the forest, on the Tritiya of Bhadrapada, Parvati fashioned a Shiva linga out of the sand of the riverbank and worshipped it through the night with total devotion, keeping a waterless fast and reciting Shiva's praises. Her father, meanwhile, searched everywhere in fear for his missing daughter.
Pleased by the depth of her penance and the purity of her love, Lord Shiva appeared before Parvati and granted her wish — that she would become His wife. Comforted, Parvati returned to her father and told him she would marry only Shiva; seeing her resolve and the Lord's blessing, Himavan consented with joy, and in time the divine marriage of Shiva and Parvati took place. Since then women keep the Hartalika Teej vrat, worshipping Shiva and Parvati through the night, praying for a devoted husband and an unbroken, happy marriage.
व्रत का फल
हरतालिका तीज व्रत कुमारी कन्याएँ सुयोग्य व प्रेमी वर की कामना से, और सुहागिन स्त्रियाँ पति की दीर्घायु व अखंड सौभाग्य के लिए रखती हैं। यह स्त्रियों के कठिनतम व्रतों में से एक है — निर्जल रहकर रातभर जागरण व पूजन के साथ रखा जाता है।
इस पूजा के मंत्र व आरती
सामान्य प्रश्न
What does the name 'Hartalika' mean?
It combines 'harat' (carried away) and 'aalika' (female friend) — recalling how Parvati's friend carried her off to the forest so she could continue her penance for Shiva and avoid a marriage to Vishnu arranged by her father.
How is the Hartalika Teej vrat kept?
It is a nirjala (waterless) fast kept through the day and night. Women worship Shiva and Parvati — often with idols of sand or clay — through a night vigil, hear the katha, and break the fast the next morning.
When is Hartalika Teej celebrated?
On the Tritiya (third day) of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, a day before Ganesh Chaturthi, usually in August or September.