Jitiya Vrat Katha

Jitiya Vrat Katha and Puja Vidhi

On the serene peak of Mount Kailash, Goddess Gauri (Parvati) asked Lord Mahadeva: "O Lord, by observing which fast, penance, or worship do women remain blessed with marital fortune and long-living children?"

Lord Mahadeva replied: "On the Ashtami Tithi of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Ashwin, mothers joyfully worship Jimutavahana, the noble son of King Shalivahana, for the longevity and well-being of their children. For this ritual, one should fashion an idol of Lord Jimutavahana out of sacred Kusha grass and place it in a water-filled vessel. In the courtyard, build a small shrine with red and yellow stalks, adorn it with red and yellow flags, and purify the ground with sandalwood paste and incense. Dig a small symbolic pond nearby and plant a branch of the Pakri (fig) tree on its bank. Fashion idols of a female eagle (Chilhori) and a female jackal (Gidarni) from clay and cow dung, applying vermilion (sindoor) to their foreheads. Worshipping with bamboo leaves ensures the growth of the family lineage. Those who worship Lord Jimutavahana with five-fold offerings (Panchopachara), observe the waterless fast, and listen to this sacred story have all their wishes fulfilled."

The Tale of the Eagle (Chilhorni) and the Jackal (Gidarni)

In the southern region of this vast earth, near the sea, lay a prosperous city named Kankavati, ruled by King Malayketu. Through the Bahuluta desert of his kingdom flowed the sacred Narmada River. On its bank stood a massive Pakri tree. A female jackal (Gidarni) lived in the hollow at the base of the tree, while a female eagle (Chilhorni) lived on its upper branches. Living together for many years, the two had become close friends. On Ashwin Krishna Ashtami, the women of the city gathered under that tree to worship Lord Jimutavahana and listen to the Vrat Katha. Seeing them, both the eagle and the jackal also resolved to observe the fast.

That evening, the only son of the city's wealthiest merchant passed away, and his family cremated him on the banks of the Narmada. That Ashtami night brought torrential rain and pitch darkness, pierced only by occasional flashes of lightning. Seeing the unburnt remains on the pyre, the fasting jackal could not control her hunger. She called up to the eagle several times: "O sister, are you awake?" When the eagle gave no reply, assuming she was asleep, the jackal crept out of her hollow, carried water in her mouth to extinguish the pyre's embers, ate her fill of the flesh, and hid the rest in her hollow for the next morning.

Sitting atop the tree, the eagle witnessed everything in silence. At dawn, the jackal asked, "Dear friend, why don't we perform Parana (breaking the fast)?" Knowing the truth of the night, the eagle sadly replied, "Sister, go ahead and break your fast. I am performing my Parana with the sprouted grains and sacred rice (Akshat-Ankuri) offered by the village women."

Rebirth as Sheelavati and Karpuravati

In the course of time, both the eagle and the jackal died together during the Kumbh at Prayag. By the merit of dying at a sacred pilgrimage, both were reborn as sisters in the house of a learned Brahmin named Bhaskar. The eagle was born as the elder daughter, named Sheelavati, and the jackal as the younger daughter, named Karpuravati. When they came of age, Sheelavati was married to a wealthy and noble man named Mahamatta, while Karpuravati was married to King Malayketu.

Because Karpuravati had broken her fast in her past life, she gave birth to seven sons, all of whom died in infancy. Meanwhile, by the merit of her unbroken fast, Sheelavati was blessed with seven healthy, long-living sons.

Consumed by grief and jealousy on the day of Jitiya Vrat, Queen Karpuravati lay on her bed and extracted three solemn oaths from King Malayketu, demanding the severed heads of her sister Sheelavati's seven sons. Bound by his royal word, the distressed King ordered the executioner to bring the heads. Karpuravati placed the seven heads in seven baskets covered with yellow cloth and sent them to Sheelavati's house as gifts for her daughters-in-law's Parana.

By the miraculous grace of Lord Jimutavahana and Sheelavati's unwavering devotion, the severed heads inside the baskets transformed into palm fruits (Taad fal), and all seven sons returned home alive on their horses! When Karpuravati heard no cries of mourning from her sister's home and learned that all seven nephews were alive, she was stunned and questioned the King. The King told her that her sister's sons were protected by the power of her past life's true fast.

Revelation of the Past Life

The following year on Jitiya, Karpuravati insisted on performing Parana together with Sheelavati. Before breaking the fast, Sheelavati took Karpuravati to the banks of the Narmada River, near the Bahuluta desert and the ancient Pakri tree. She reminded Karpuravati of their past lives as the eagle and the jackal, and showed her the skeletal remains hidden inside the hollow of the Pakri tree.

Sheelavati explained: "Because you defiled your fast in your previous birth, your children did not survive. Because I observed the fast with complete purity, my sons are alive and blessed." Hearing the truth of her past actions, Karpuravati was overcome with remorse and gave up her mortal body on the spot, attaining liberation after the King performed her final rites.

The Legend of Prince Jimutavahana

Prince Jimutavahana of the Gandharvas was extraordinarily compassionate and righteous. While in the forest, he saw an elderly Naga mother weeping bitterly because her only son, Shankhachuda, was scheduled to be offered as daily prey to Garuda. Moved by pity, Jimutavahana covered himself in the red cloth and lay upon the sacrificial rock in Shankhachuda's place. When Garuda arrived and began tearing into his flesh, he marveled at the prince's calm endurance. Realizing it was Jimutavahana, Garuda was deeply moved by his selflessness. Garuda healed Jimutavahana, revived all the previously slain serpents with nectar, and vowed never to demand serpent sacrifices again.

Since that time, mothers across the mortal world worship Lord Jimutavahana on Ashwin Krishna Ashtami for the protection and long life of their children.