അഹോഈ അഷ്ടമീ

Long ago a moneylender lived in a town with his seven sons, seven daughters-in-law and one daughter. Before Diwali, to plaster and freshen the house, the daughter went to the forest with her seven sisters-in-law to bring soil.

Where she was digging, there was the burrow of a seh — a porcupine. Without knowing it, her spade killed one of the porcupine’s cubs. Seh Mata, the mother porcupine, was overcome with grief and anger: “You have killed my child. I will bind your womb.”

The frightened girl begged her sisters-in-law, one by one, to take the curse in her place. Six refused. The youngest thought her mother-in-law would be angry if she too refused, so she agreed.

After that, every child born to the youngest daughter-in-law died seven days later. Seven sons were lost this way. In despair she asked a pandit why. He said, “Serve the Surahi cow. She is Seh Mata’s friend; she will take you to Seh Mata, and by her grace your children will live.”

Every morning the young woman rose early and quietly cleaned the Surahi cow’s shed, cleared the dung and set everything in order. The cow wondered who was serving her. One day she watched in secret and saw the young woman. Pleased, she said, “Ask for whatever you wish.” The woman said, “Seh Mata has bound my womb. Please take me to her.”

The Surahi cow set out with her across seven seas to Seh Mata. On the way they rested under a tree. There the young woman saw a snake creeping up to bite the chicks of a Garud bird. She killed the snake and saved them.

Just then the mother bird returned, saw the blood, thought the woman had killed her chicks, and began to peck at her. The woman explained that she had saved them from the snake. Learning the truth, the bird was overjoyed and carried them both on her back to Seh Mata.

When Seh Mata heard of the young woman’s service, her kindness and the bird’s story, her heart melted. She blessed her: “May you have seven sons and seven daughters-in-law, and may your home be full of plenty.”

When the young woman returned home, she found her seven sons alive and seven daughters-in-law in the house, and her home filled with happiness. Since then mothers keep this fast on Kartik Krishna Ashtami, drawing Ahoi Mata and Seh Mata with her cubs, and offering water to the stars in the evening.

O Ahoi Mata, as you filled the lap of the moneylender’s youngest daughter-in-law, keep every child happy and long-lived. Jai Ahoi Mata!