Navaraatri Vrat Katha:chapter- Three

Hearing the words of Goddess Bhagawati, Sumati pleaded with folded hands, “Goddess Bhagawati, if you are really pleased with me, I humbly bow before you and pray you to cure my husband’s leprosy.” In response, Goddess Bhagawati humbly replied, “Offer the merit of one day gained from the fast you observed during those days to alleviate your husband’s leprosy. By the power of that merit, your husband will be relieved of his suffering.” Brahma Deva further said, “Sumati, pleased to hear the words of Goddess Bhagawati and her mind filled with the desire to cure her husband, devoutly uttered ‘Tathastu’. With that utterance, her husband’s body became free from leprosy and health glowed. Seeing the transformed and beautiful form of her Brahmin husband, she began to praise the Goddess and said, ‘O Goddess Bhagawati! You are the remover of sufferings. O Divine Mother, who removes the troubles of the three worlds, removes all sorrows, heals the weak, grants desired boons when pleased, and destroys the wicked. O Amba! My father abandoned me and married me to a man suffering from leprosy. I was despised and forsaken by my own father and wandered in this desolate forest. It is you, O Goddess, who has saved me from this calamity, I bow to you. Hearing Sumati's words, Goddess Bhagawati was very pleased and prophesied, 'O Sumati! At the appropriate time, you will give birth to a son named Udalaya, who will be exceptionally intelligent, wealthy, and courageous.' After this divine blessing, Goddess Bhagawati once again addressed Sumati and said, 'O Sumati! Ask for whatever you desire.' Hearing these words of Goddess Bhagawati, Sumati humbly requested, 'O Goddess Bhagawati! If you have mercy on me, please provide me with a detailed description of the method of Navratri fasting and its fruits.” She further said, “After performing regular fasting and puja, make idols of Goddess Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati and offer flowers and prasad. Offering arghya to special fruits brings special blessings: Bijoura gives beauty, nutmeg gives fame, grapes gives success, amla gives happiness and banana gives ornaments. On the ninth day, at the end of the fast, perform havan as per the rituals after offering arghya with flowers and fruits.” Goddess Bhagawati further said, “Perform havan using materials like sugar, ghee, wheat, honey, barley, sesame, bilva leaves, coconut, grapes and kadamba flowers. Offering wheat in the havan brings Lakshmi, kheer and champa flowers bring wealth and bael leaves bring happiness. Amla brings fame, bananas bring progeny, lotus flowers bring royal honours.” “A person offering sugar, ghee, coconut, honey, barley, sesame and fruits in the havan gets all his desired results. The person observing this fast should follow the procedure carefully, give dakshina to the officiating priest and thank him for the successful completion of the yagna.” “Whoever observes this Navaratri fast as prescribed, all his desires will be fulfilled without a doubt. Any charitable act done during these nine days will yield many times the result. By observing this Navaratri fast, you will gain merit equal to those who perform an Ashwamedha yagna. O Sumati, observe this great fast, it fulfills all desires, whether you are at a holy pilgrimage site, in a temple, or within the confines of your home.