somvar(merchant ) fasting story: Importance of worshiping Lord Shiva and fasting

There once lived a moneylender who was exceedingly wealthy. He lacked nothing—neither riches nor any other material comfort. However, he was deeply distressed because he had no son. Consumed by this very anxiety, he spent his days and nights in constant worry; consequently, in the hope of being blessed with a son, he observed a fast and performed worship of Lord Shiva every Monday. In the evenings, he would visit the Shiva temple to light a lamp. Witnessing such profound devotion, Goddess Parvati once spoke to Lord Shiva, saying: "O Lord! This moneylender is a most ardent devotee of yours; he observes your fasts and performs your worship with immense faith and reverence. Therefore, his heart's desire ought to be fulfilled." Lord Shiva replied: "Parvati! This world is a field of action. Just as a farmer reaps exactly the kind of harvest he has sown in his field, so too does a person in this world experience the consequences corresponding to the deeds they have performed." Parvati, however, pressed her plea with great earnestness: "O Lord! If he is indeed such a devoted follower of yours, and if he is suffering from any form of sorrow, then that suffering must surely be alleviated; for you are ever compassionate toward your devotees and are the remover of their afflictions. If you do not act in this manner, then why would human beings continue to serve you, observe your fasts, and offer you worship?

Witnessing such earnest entreaty from Parvati, Lord Shiva was pleased and spoke thus: "O Parvati! This man has no son. It is this very anxiety regarding a child that causes him such profound sorrow. Although it is not destined for him to have a son, I grant him the boon of obtaining one; however, that son shall live for only twelve years. Thereafter, he shall meet his demise. I can do nothing more for him than this." The merchant was listening to all of this. Yet, he felt neither joy nor sorrow; he continued to observe the Monday fast and worship of Lord Shiva exactly as he had done before. After some time had elapsed, the merchant's wife conceived, and in the tenth month, she gave birth to an exceptionally beautiful son.

Great celebrations took place in the moneylender's home; however, upon learning that the child was only twelve years old, the moneylender did not display excessive joy, nor did he reveal this secret to anyone. When the boy turned eleven, his mother urged his father to arrange his marriage; but the moneylender replied, "I will not have him married just yet; instead, I shall send him to Kashi to pursue his studies." Subsequently, the moneylender summoned his brother-in-law—the boy's maternal uncle—and, entrusting him with a substantial sum of money, instructed him: "Take this boy to Kashi for his education. Along the way, at every place you visit, perform sacrificial rites (*Yajnas*), distribute alms, and feed the Brahmins." Thus, the uncle and nephew traveled together, performing *Yajnas* and feeding Brahmins at every stop along their journey. On their way, they came across a city. The king of that city was celebrating the wedding of his daughter; however, the groom—the son of another king who had arrived with the wedding procession—was blind in one eye. The groom's father was deeply anxious that, upon seeing the groom's physical defect, the bride's parents might create some impediment to the marriage. Consequently, when he beheld the moneylender's son—a youth of extraordinary beauty—he thought to himself, "Why not have this boy stand in as the groom during the ceremonial reception at the entrance?" Acting upon this thought, the king approached the boy and his uncle with the proposal; they readily agreed. After bathing and dressing the moneylender's son in the ceremonial attire of a groom, they mounted him upon a horse and led him to the entrance, where the entire ceremony was conducted with perfect smoothness.

Now, the groom's father reasoned: "What harm would there be if this very boy were to complete the actual wedding rituals as well?" With this in mind, he appealed to the boy's uncle: "It would be a great kindness on your part if you would allow him to perform the *Pheras* (circumambulation of the sacred fire) and the *Kanyadan* (giving away of the bride) rituals as well. In return, we shall reward you with a vast fortune." They consented to this request as well, and the wedding ceremony was concluded most auspiciously. However, just as the boy was preparing to depart, he took the corner of the princess's bridal veil (*Chundari*) and inscribed upon it the following message: "Your marriage has, in truth, taken place with me; yet, the prince to whom they are sending you is blind in one eye. As for me, I am bound for Kashi to pursue my studies." When the princess discovered this inscription on the *chunari*, she refused to accompany the prince, declaring, "He is not my husband; I have not been wed to him. My husband has gone to Kashi to pursue his studies." Consequently, the princess's parents did not send their daughter off, and the wedding procession departed empty-handed. Meanwhile, the merchant's son and his maternal uncle had arrived in Kashi. Upon reaching there, they commenced performing sacrificial rituals, and the young boy began his studies. When the boy turned twelve years old, they were in the midst of conducting a sacrificial ceremony one day when the boy said to his uncle, "Uncle, I am not feeling quite well today." His uncle told him to go inside and rest. The boy went inside and lay down to sleep; a short while later, he breathed his last.

When his maternal uncle arrived and saw that the boy had died, he was overcome with deep sorrow. However, he reasoned that if he were to give way to loud lamentation right then, the ritual sacrifice (*Yajna*) would remain incomplete. Consequently, he quickly concluded the sacrificial rites; only after escorting the Brahmins to their homes did he begin to wail and mourn. Coincidentally, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati happened to be passing by that very spot at that time. Upon hearing the sounds of loud weeping and lamentation, Parvati urged Shiva to accompany her to the source of the noise. Upon seeing the beautiful boy lying dead, she said, "O Lord, this is the very son of that merchant who was born as a result of your divine boon." Shiva replied, "Parvati, his allotted lifespan was precisely this long, and he has now lived it to its full extent." Parvati pleaded, "O Lord, I implore you—please grant this child a longer life; otherwise, his parents will perish in the throes of unbearable grief." Yielding to Parvati's repeated and earnest entreaties, Shiva bestowed a boon upon the boy. By the grace of Lord Shiva, the boy was restored to life. Thereafter, Shiva and Parvati departed for their celestial abode, Mount Kailash.
The boy and his maternal uncle then set out for their home, continuing to perform the ritual sacrifices along the way. On their journey, they arrived at the very city where the boy's marriage had taken place. Upon reaching the city and commencing their sacrificial rites, the boy's father-in-law recognized him. He welcomed him into his palace with great hospitality and, with immense respect and honor, bade farewell to his daughter and son-in-law, bestowing upon them a wealth of grain and a retinue of maidservants. As they approached their own city, the maternal uncle suggested, "Let me go ahead to your home first and convey the news." At that very moment, the boy's parents were seated upon the roof of their house; they had taken a solemn vow that if their son returned home safe and sound, they would joyfully descend from the roof; otherwise, they would cast themselves down from the rooftop and end their lives. Just then, the maternal uncle arrived and delivered the news that their son had returned; however, the parents could not bring themselves to believe it. It was only when the maternal uncle solemnly swore an oath—affirming that their son had indeed returned, accompanied by his wife and a great abundance of wealth—that the merchant welcomed him with overwhelming joy, and the family subsequently lived together in perfect happiness. Similarly, whoever observes the Monday fast, or reads or listens to this story, finds their sorrows dispelled and all their heart's desires fulfilled. In this world, having enjoyed various forms of happiness, they ultimately attain the realm of Sadashiva.