শরদ পূর্ণিমা

In a certain town lived a moneylender with two daughters. Both kept the Purnima fast, but the elder kept it fully and correctly, while the younger always left it incomplete।

Both were married. The elder had lovely children and her home prospered, but every child born to the younger died soon after birth। In her grief she asked the pandits why. They said, “You have always left the Purnima fast unfinished; that is the cause। Keep the Sharad Purnima fast now with full faith and every rite।”

The younger daughter kept the Sharad Purnima fast perfectly. In time a son was born to her, but he too died after a few days। She laid the baby on a low stool, covered him with a cloth, and called her elder sister, offering her that stool to sit on।

As the elder sister began to sit, the hem of her skirt brushed the baby — and he began to cry। Startled, she said, “Did you want to blame me? He would have died if I had sat down!” Weeping, the younger said, “Sister, he had already died; it is the power of your fasts and your goodness that has given him life।”

From then on the whole town kept the Sharad Purnima fast with every rite. On this night kheer is left in the moonlight, for it is believed that the moon’s rays rain nectar। Goddess Lakshmi asks, “Ko jagarti?” — “Who is awake?” — and blesses those who keep vigil।

O Moon God and Mother Lakshmi, as you blessed the moneylender’s daughters, keep your grace on all।