GOWRI TRITEEYA-SWARNA GOWRI VRATA

(DISCOURSE BY N. R. SRINIVASAN, SEPTEMBER 2012)

Being the daughter of Himavaan (snow clad mountains of Himalayas) Parvati has to be white. So
she is also popularly called Gowrii meaning the bright one which could also mean the
intellectual one (Uma as celeberarted as the most intellectual in Upanishads). Swarna Gowri
Vrata is essentially of South Indian Origin, popular in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu
celebrated or observed on the Bhadrapad Sukla Triteeya day, a day before Ganesha Chaturthi. It
is popularly known as Gowri Habba in Karnataka. In North India, more popularly in Maharashtra
this is celebrated as Hartalika festival. In Rajasthan Gangaur festival is celebrated over several
days in the month of Chaitra. It commemorates the union of Siva (Gana) and Parvati (Gauri).
Hence the festival is called Gan-gaur. In Goa, North Konkan and Kerala it is celebrated as Tay
or Tayi. This is observed as ritual (Vrata) in some parts and as festival in some other parts
propitiating Goddess Parvati, mother of Lord Ganesha. She is worshiped in the Kalasa Form as
Jalagauri as well as Harita Gauri , as a mound of turmeric. A vrata is a special vow observed to
ensure the prosperity and security of one's household .
It is also customary to worship the clay idols of Gowri (Parvati) and then give her a warm send
off after worship by immersion in flowing waters. This Vrata is observed by married women
propitiating goddess Gauri seeking prosperity and welfare of their husbands. Newly-weds in
olden days used to undergo the nuptials ceremony on this day so that consummation takes place
hopefully in the beginning of colder months and delivery takes place after nine months in
summer so that the born child would be less prone to infections. This practice is fast vanishing.
Those who observe this day as Vrata also tie an arm band of sacred thread around their wrists
with the blessings of Devi. In Karnataka "Baageena" forms the essential part of the function.
Holy bath (Mangala Snaana) and wearing new clothes form the essential part of the
celebrations. Bageena consists of a number of items offered in a willow painted with turmeric
and offered to Goddess first and then distributed or exchanged among married ladies. It contains
packets of turmeric, vermilion, black bangles, black-beads, cereals (rice, toor dal, green dal)
coarse wheat, jaggery etc. It is believed that on Ganesha Chaturthi day, Ganesha being the elder
son goes to her mother-parents house and takes her back to Kailasa. In this connection please to
recall your memory to the popular belief in Bengal that Parvati (who is seen as a manifestation of
Durga) visits her father's house with her daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati and her sons Ganesha
and Kartikeya on the sixth day of Navaratri. On the tenth day she returns back to her husband.
Everybody mourns her departure (Vidhaai).
Parvati, the consort of Siva is worshiped in two forms: as Gauri holding a child and as Kaali
dancing amid corpses. Kaali represents wild nature--uncontrollable and almighty. As Gauri, the
Goddess is depicted wearing a green sari, bedecked in the sixteen love-charms (sola singar) and
sitting demurely beside her husband. Gauri represents sex and the life-giving aspect of Nature.
Gauri also represents the domesticated aspect of Nature, the fields, the farms, the villages. She
is popularly worshiped as Gauri in the South and as Kaali in Bengal.

Harita is the goddess of verdant vegetation and her presence is felt all through the month of
Bhadrupada in lush green fields. She is Gowri, mother of Ganesha, the Lord of Obstacles. Gowri
gave birth to Ganesha without the help of her consort Siva as you all know. She created him by
molding the paste of her skin according to Puranas. That is why he is worshiped as turmeric
lump symbolically. The divine mother is worshiped on the third day of Sukla Bhadrupada. On
the fourth day the son is worshiped. Idols of mother and son are bedecked with flowers and
offered sweets and incense before being given a warm send off and immersed in water after five
days usually.
Sarvamangala maangalye sive sarvaartha sadhake | saranye trayambake Gowri Naraayani
namostu te ||
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