Hindu week days 6a.

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6a. Friday

 

This story is related with Friday.

 

The devotees wear white clothes on this day and eat white food, like

kheer made of white rice, sugar and milk, only once at night. Sour

dishes are avoided. It is believed that all the afflictions due to Sukra

get pacified if one keeps a fast on this day. One gets all sorts of joys

and happiness. Sukra is Venus Planet. Sukra's idol is worshipped

with white flowers and rice.

 

In good old days, there lived three friends. They belonged to Brahman,

Businessman and royal families. They were fast friends. All the three

were married but the Businessman's son had not brought home his wife

after his marriage ceremony. One day, the three friends were together

gossiping. They talked about their wives. The Brahmans son and the

prince praised their wives and said, " A home without a wife is a

devils abode " . They asked the Businessman's son to bring his

wife as soon as he could.

 

The Businessman's son went to his house and said to his mother,

" I will go to my in-laws place to bring back my wife " . His

mother said, " My dear son, the Venus Planet is still set. It is not

visible in the sky. Wait for a couple of days. Venus is the planet of

love. If you go and bring back your wife now, your married life may not

be happy " . The son did not agree and insisted on going to his

in-laws place. The parents permitted reluctantly. The young Businessman

reached his in-laws house and told them about his mission. His in-laws

said, " The planet Venus is still setting. It will be visible after a

couple of days. Parents do not send away their daughters during this

period. It is inauspicious " .

 

The boy did not agree. The parents parted with their daughter

reluctantly. The couple had hardly crossed the town when the wheel of

their bullock cart got damaged. The bullocks' legs were also

injured. The young lady was badly wounded. Still, the youngman continued

the journey despite all the adversities. As they went ahead, they

encountered some dacoits. The dacoits robbed the bride of her ornaments

and beat up the young man. At last, they reached home after facing many

set-backs. The youngman was also bitten by a poisonous snake and he

became unconscious. The young wife wept bitterly.

 

The Brahmans son came to know of the incident. He went to his

friend's house and said to his father, " Arrange return journey

for them. They should not have started their journey during the

forbidden period. The Venus is invisible in the sky. They will be out of

danger if they go back to the in-laws place " . The businessman

arranged their return journey. When the youngman reached his in-laws

house, he came back to himself and recovered from his illness after an

ordinary treatment. He stayed there till the Venus became visible in the

horizon. Afterwards, he returned to his house with his wife and lived a

happy life. He started observing Friday fast regularly thereafter.