Hindu week days 6b.

[Guest guest]

6b. Friday

 

Once there was an old woman. She used to observe Friday fasts regularly.

She worshipped Sukra's idol. She gave holy dips to the idol and

offered best food to it as prasadam. One day she decided to go on a

pilgrimage. But how could she leave the house? Who would give holy dips

to Sukras idol? Who would offer food to it? She conveyed her anxiety to

her son's wife. Her son's wife that is her daughter-in-law was

not a religious lady. She wanted to get rid of her mother-in-law for

some time. She agreed to worship Sukras idol in her absence.

 

The old lady felt happy and left on the pilgrimage. Her daughter-in-law

being what she was, after taking her bath, used to squeeze a few drops

of water from her wet sari and considered it as a dip for the idol. She

would prepare best dishes in her mother-in-law's absence and place

some crumbs or remains before the idol as prasadam. Even this was heavy

for her. One day she decided to get rid of the idol. She put it in a

waste paper basket and threw it on a heap of garbage. A wise lady

passing near the garbage noticed Sukra's bright idol lying on the

garbage. She picked it up with great respect and brought it to her

house. She gave it holy dips and offered best food as prasadam. She also

observed fast in the name of Sukra. The lady became very rich. On the

other hand, the old woman's family became poorer and poorer. The

family could hardly make both ends meet.

 

The old lady returned from her pilgrimage. She noticed the changed

conditions of the family. She asked the daughter-in-law, about the

Sukras idol. The daughter-in-law kept mum. She repeated the question,

but the lady did not speak. She repeated her question for the third

time. The daughter-in-law replied, " I was fed up with Sukra's

worship. I had no time to spare. I threw it on a heap of garbage some

weeks ago " . The old lady was astonished at the reply. She went to

the garbage heap and searched for the idol, but had to return

disappointed and she decided to go from door to door to enquire about

it.

 

She knocked at the door of a rich lady and said, " Have you seen my

Shukra's idol? " The rich lady gazed at her from head to foot and

said, " Are you insane? Why did you throw the idol on the garbage?

You have no regards for deities. You should be punished for it " . The

old lady narrated the whole story to the rich lady and felt sorry for

her daughter-in-law. The rich lady said, " If it is so I shall return

the idol to you. Lord Sukra has blessed me with health and wealth. I do

not want to keep others things with me. Take back this idol with full

respect " .

 

The old lady brought back the idol and placed it at the worshipping

Room. She observed Sukra's fasts as a penance. Lord Sukra again

blessed them with health and wealth. The family enjoyed a happy life

again thereafter.