Story of Kedareswara Vratam

Legend of Kedareswara Vratam, Kedareswara Vrata Katha in English, Kedara Vratha Katha

Sootha Pauranic addressed Shaunaka and other rishis as follows, “O honorable Sages! There is a vratam called Kedareswara Vratam, which is a very fulfilling one and was performed by Parvathi to get wedded to Shiva. Let me tell you how this vratam is performed. This vratam can be done by any of the castes – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vysyas and Sudras. One who performs this vratam 21 times will attain great prosperity and will reach heaven after death. Hence O Sages! Let me explain the effectiveness of this vratam. Once in the east of earth, there was a mountain called Kailash, adorned with the silver clouds as crown, with its gem studded peaks, and with beautiful ivies and trees – trees that bore various fruits and flowers. Various birds lived and multiple brooks ran through the crooks and corners of the mountain. Many fragrant trees like tala, tamala, rasaala, himtala, vakula, Asoka, chandana, devdaru, narikela, punnaaga and champaka flourished in the woods, making it an auspicious place for all the mankind.

On this beautiful mount Kailash, lives Lord Parameshwar, with Devi Parvathi and his Pramadha Ganas, served by the great rishis, siddhas, gandharvas, kinneras and kimpurushas. Once Lord Shiva was seated, smiling benevolently at his subjects and the other devas. In this court, with Surya, Agni, Moon, accompanied with stars, Indra and his devas, Vashistha and other Rishis, Brahmi and other shaktis, Nandi, brungi and other ganas, - Sage Narada and other singers sang to the Lord’s delight; Rambha danced graciously to the divine tunes. Overcome by the moment, Bhrungi started dancing comically, which brought laughter to all in the court and made great commotion in the mountain ridges. Seeing this Lord Shiva was happy, and praised Bhrungi for the entertainment. Happy at being able to get the blessings of his Master, Bhrungi salutes Lord Shiva, ignoring Mother Parvathi.

Seeing this, Parvathi asks her smiling husband, “O Lord! Why did Bhrungi forget to salute me? There must be some reason worth knowing. Please let me know”. Shankar replied, “Devi! Listen. The Yogis seek the ultimate deliverance, so what use do they have from you?” This reply angered Parvathi and pulled back her energies from Lord Shiva. The Lord did not respond to her, due to which she lost her powers. This further angered her and she leaves Kailash and goes to the Ashram of Sage Gautama to do penance. The Ashram of Gautama was a place of sanctity where all wild animals like lions, tigers, elephants dwelled in peace, where enemies like an eagle and snake, lived together; it was filled with various tree, creepers and shrubs. In such place, Gautama, at his altar, saw the beautiful Parvathi and addressed her as follows, “O Bhagavathi! What is the reason that you come to my place?” To this Parvathi replied sadly, “O Sage! Tell me a penance which will make me a part of Lord Shiva again.” The rishi advised her to perform the Kedareshwara vratam, which is the granter of all boons and desires. The Devi asked him to let her know how this vrata is done, The sage told her that started Bhadrapada sukla day, with a pure heart, the Devi should do pooja with 21 leaves to the Lord Kedara, keep fasting and serve food to a Brahmin the next day, till amavasa. Every day, she must pray to Lord Kedareshwara. In a clean place, rice has to be poured, over which a pitcher has to be placed, covered with silk clothes and filled with precious gems and gold. This pitcher or kalash has to be sanctified by doing pooja with Sandalwood, akshata. 21 Brahmins have to be invited, their feet cleansed and they offered with service, and then the Lord Kedareshwara to be invoked into the Kalasha. Then the Lord has to be done pooja in proper way with sandalwood, myrrh, saffron, turmeric, flowers, tamboolam, clothes, agarbattis and deepam and other offerings. The 21 Brahmins have to be offered food with all eatables and fruits, offered tamboolams and money. Then the Lord Shankar will be pleased and will grant your heart’s desire. Devi Katyaayani then performed the vrata as per the sage’s guidance for which Lord Shankar was pleased and appeared before her and granted her place in his body. Parvathi, overjoyed with this, asked the Lord to bless anyone who performs this penance, the lord agrees to this and disappears along with the Devi.

After some time, Chitrangadha, a gandharva who is a devotee of Shiva, comes to know of the vratam from Nandi. With a desire to make it known to the people, he goes to the city of Ujjain and tells its’ king, Vajradanta about this Vratam.. Vajradanta performed this vrata and as a result he becomes an emperor.

After some time, two daughters named punyavathi and bhagyavathi are born to a vysya in the same city. The daughters sought permission from their father to perform the vratam. The merchant gave them his permission, but told them as he doesn’t have enough money he cannot afford to buy the required items. Taking their father’s permission, the two daughters performed penance to Shiva. Happy at this, Shiva appeared and granted them the items needed to complete the vratam. Then, the girls performed the vratam with conviction. The Lord bestowed them with good luck, health and beauty. Due to this good luck, the Ujjain king married Punyavathi and Chola King married Bhagyavathi. The merchant also became rich and prosperous, happy with his grandsons. In some time, Bhagyavathi developed vanity and arrogance due to her riches and stopped performing the Kedara vrata, regularly. Due to this, she was driven out of her kingdom with her son and in a destitute state she kept wandering through the forests. She reached a hunter’s house and she addressed her son as follows, “O Son! Go to my elder sister’s house and tell her our plight. Get enough money for our survival”. When Punyavathi heard of their state, she was moved and gave the boy lots of money, with which he started back to where his mother was. On the way, the Lord came in the form of robber and took off all the money from the boy. The Lord then appeared him and told him that who discontinue to perform the great vratam do not deserve riches. Astonished at this, the boy goes back to his aunt and tell her the happenings. Punyavathi then advises the boy to tell her mother to continue with the vratam and gave him some money. On the way, the boy finds the lost money too. Surprised at these turning of events, the boy returns to his mother and both perform the vratam. Due to the good effect of this, they return to Chola kingdom, to their father. From then onwards Bhagyavathi and the King would perform this vrata at the banks of the river in their kingdom every year. They lived in great prosperity and health thereafter. Thus anyone who performs this vrata, or listens to the story with conviction and bhakti, will be blessed by the Lord, will enjoy good health and prosperity in this world and will merge in the Lord at the end. This was told by Sage Gautama, which was in turn narrated to Sounaka and others by Soothamuni. Vyasa has explained in Skanda Purana.


Kedhaareshvara vrathakatha sampoornamu.