Sacred Stories & Legends
Jivit Putrika Vrat - Complete Collection
Discover the rich tapestry of stories, legends, and folk tales that form the spiritual foundation of this sacred maternal fast
Three Sacred Stories
Each story carries deep spiritual meaning and provides the foundation for this powerful maternal vrat. Together, they create a rich tapestry of sacrifice, devotion, and divine grace.
The Legend of King Jimutvahana
The Ultimate Sacrifice for Maternal Love
The foundational story of a compassionate king who sacrificed himself to save a Naga mother's son from Garuda.
The Fable of Chilhi-Siyarin
Eagle and Jackal - A Moral Tale
A cautionary tale of two friends who observed the fast differently, leading to dramatically different consequences.
Krishna and Parikshit Revival
The Mahabharata Connection
How Lord Krishna saved Arjuna's grandson from Ashwatthama's weapon, giving birth to the name "Jivitputrika".
The Legend of King Jimutvahana
The Ultimate Sacrifice for Maternal Love
🏛️ Historical Context
This story forms the foundation of the 7th-century Sanskrit play "Nagananda" (Joy of Serpents) written by Emperor Harsha. It appears in multiple forms across Indian literature, including the Kathasaritsagara tales and Buddhist-influenced narratives.
The Story
King Jimutvahana was a noble and compassionate ruler of the Gandharvas, known throughout the celestial realms for his selflessness and kindness. Despite his royal status, he renounced his throne and material possessions, choosing instead to live a simple life in the forest, dedicated to serving his father and helping others.
King Jimutvahana - The Compassionate Ruler
The Tragic Encounter
One day, while wandering through the forest, Jimutvahana came across an elderly Naga woman weeping bitterly by a riverbank. Her tears fell like pearls, and her anguish moved the compassionate king deeply. When he inquired about her sorrow, she revealed her tragic plight.
"O noble one," she said, "I belong to the Nagavanshi (serpent dynasty). Due to an ancient pact between our people and the mighty Garuda (the divine eagle and vehicle of Lord Vishnu), we must offer one of our children daily as sacrifice. Tomorrow, it is the turn of my only son,Shankhchuda, to be devoured by Garuda. I have no other children, and his death will end our lineage forever."
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Jimutvahana's heart was filled with compassion for the grieving mother. Without hesitation, he made a solemn vow: "Mother, do not weep. I promise you that your son shall live. I will take his place on the sacrificial rock."
The next morning, as the sun rose over the mountains, Jimutvahana wrapped himself in a red cloth (the traditional color for sacrifice) and lay down on the designated rock where Shankhchuda was to be offered. The Naga mother tried to dissuade him, but the noble king remained firm in his resolve.
Garuda - The Divine Eagle Descends
Soon, the sky darkened as Garuda descended with tremendous force, his wings creating hurricane-like winds. The earth trembled under his mighty presence. Seeing what he believed to be the daily offering, Garuda seized Jimutvahana with his powerful talons and began to tear into his flesh.
Divine Recognition
What amazed Garuda was that his "prey" showed no signs of fear, anger, or resistance. Instead, Jimutvahana endured the pain in complete silence, his face radiating peace and compassion. Puzzled by this unusual behavior, Garuda paused and demanded to know who this extraordinary being was.
When Jimutvahana revealed his identity and explained his selfless act - that he had willingly taken the place of an innocent Naga child to save a mother's heart from breaking - Garuda was overwhelmed with emotion. Never before had he encountered such pure, selfless love and sacrifice.
The Divine Promise
Deeply moved by Jimutvahana's nobility, Garuda not only spared the king's life but made a momentous vow: "O noble Jimutvahana, your sacrifice has opened my eyes to the power of compassion and maternal love. From this day forward, I pledge never again to demand sacrifices from the Naga community. All serpent children shall live freely."
Thus, through one man's supreme sacrifice, an entire community was freed from the terror of daily loss. Jimutvahana's act became legendary, symbolizing the power of selfless love and the lengths to which one should go to protect the innocent.
Connection to Jivit Putrika
From that day forward, mothers began observing the Jivit Putrika fast in honor of Jimutvahana's deed. Just as he sacrificed himself to save a mother's child, mothers now sacrifice their comfort through fasting to invoke divine protection for their own children. The story serves as both inspiration and spiritual foundation for this powerful maternal vrat.
The Fable of Chilhi-Siyarin
Eagle and Jackal - A Moral Tale of Devotion
🌊 Setting the Scene
This beloved folk tale is especially popular in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. It serves as a cautionary story about observing religious vows with complete devotion and honesty. The story explains why clay figures of eagles and jackals are worshipped during Jitiya.
The Tale of Two Friends
Long ago, near the sacred banks of the Narmada River (some versions place them by other holy waters), lived two close friends - a female eagle (Chilhi) and a female jackal (Siyarin). Despite their different natures, they had formed an unlikely but strong friendship, spending their days together and sharing the joys and sorrows of life.
Sacred Banks of River Narmada
Learning About the Vrat
One day, while resting near their favorite pakar tree, they observed a group of devout women from a nearby village preparing for the Jivit Putrika fast. The friends watched in fascination as the mothers spoke lovingly about their children, explaining how this sacred vrat would protect their offspring from all dangers.
Moved by what they had witnessed, both the eagle and the jackal decided to observe the fast for the welfare of their own young ones. They made a solemn pact to fast together, supporting each other through the difficult nirjala (waterless) vrat that lay ahead.
The Night of Temptation
As the fasting day progressed, both friends endured the pangs of hunger and thirst with determination. However, as night fell, a great test arose. The keen nose of the jackal detected the aroma of rich food remnants from a recent cremation ground nearby - or in some versions, the smell of buried offerings left by wealthy merchants.
The temptation grew overwhelming for the jackal. Her natural scavenging instincts were awakened by the delicious smells. Despite her earlier resolve and the sacred vow she had made, Siyarin (the jackal) broke her fast in the darkness of night, secretly consuming the food she had discovered.
Meanwhile, Chilhi (the eagle), despite facing the same hunger and thirst, remained steadfast in her devotion. Even when she caught scent of the food that had tempted her friend, she resisted all urges and maintained her vrat with unwavering dedication throughout the entire night.
The Consequences Unfold
The next morning, both friends completed what appeared to be their fast, but the divine powers knew the truth. The results of their actions would manifest in their next births, as the law of karma works mysteriously but surely.
The Rebirth - Two Sisters, Two Destinies
Sheelavati (Eagle) & Kapooravati (Jackal)
The Next Lives - A Tale of Two Sisters
In their next birth, the faithful eagle was reborn as Sheelavati, a beautiful princess blessed with seven healthy, handsome sons. Her life was filled with joy, prosperity, and the ultimate blessing of motherhood - her children thrived and brought honor to their family.
The jackal, who had broken her vow, was reborn as Kapooravati (also called Kalavati in some versions), the younger sister of Sheelavati. But her fate was tragic - every child she bore died shortly after birth, leaving her heart broken and her life empty.
Jealousy and Evil Design
Consumed by jealousy and unable to bear her sister's happiness, Kapooravati hatched an evil plan. She manipulated her brother-in-law, the king, convincing him through lies and deceit to kill all seven of Sheelavati's sons. In her twisted logic, she reasoned that if she couldn't have children, neither should her sister.
The king, tragically deceived by his sister-in-law's manipulation, ordered the execution of the seven boys. Their heads were to be sent to Sheelavati as proof of the deed. The entire kingdom was shocked by this terrible act, and Sheelavati awaited the worst news of her life.
Divine Intervention
However, the accumulated merit from Sheelavati's faithful observance of the Jivit Putrika vrat in her previous life as an eagle created a divine shield around her children. ThroughJimutvahana's intervention and divine grace, a miracle occurred.
When the executioner's sword fell, instead of harming the boys, they were mysteriously transported to safety. The "heads" that were delivered to Sheelavati turned out to be mere clay pots, fruits, or flowers - harmless objects that had been divinely substituted for her children.
Meanwhile, all seven sons were restored to life and returned to their mother, healthy and unharmed. The miracle was so profound that even the king realized the divine protection surrounding Sheelavati's family.
The Final Justice
When Kapooravati learned that her evil scheme had not only failed but had actually demonstrated her sister's divine protection, she was overwhelmed with shock and remorse. The realization of her wickedness and the futility of her jealousy caused her to collapse. She died instantly from the combined weight of her guilt and the karmic consequences of her actions.
The Moral and Ritual Connection
This story teaches several crucial lessons:
- Complete Devotion: The vrat must be observed with total sincerity - half-measures or deception nullify its power
- Karmic Justice: Our actions in this life or previous lives determine our fate
- Divine Protection: Sincere devotion creates an invisible shield around our loved ones
- Consequences of Jealousy: Negative emotions like jealousy ultimately destroy the one who harbors them
This is why during Jitiya puja, mothers create small clay figures of "Chilhi and Siyarin" (eagle and jackal) and worship them - pledging to emulate the steadfast eagle and not the faltering jackal. Food offerings are also left for wild eagles and jackals as part of the tradition, seeking their blessings for the children.
Krishna and the Revival of Parikshit
The Mahabharata Connection to Jivitputrika
⚔️ After the Great War
This story connects Jivit Putrika directly to the great epic Mahabharata, specifically to the events following the devastating Kurukshetra war. It provides a scriptural foundation for the festival, involving Lord Krishna himself and the continuation of the Pandava lineage.
The Aftermath of War
The great Kurukshetra war had ended after eighteen days of unprecedented bloodshed. The Pandavas had emerged victorious, but at a tremendous cost - almost all the warriors from both sides lay dead on the battlefield. The Kaurava army was completely destroyed, and the Pandava side had lost most of their heroes, including the braveAbhimanyu, son of Arjuna.
After the Great Kurukshetra War
The Last Hope of the Pandavas
Uttara, the young widow of Abhimanyu, was carrying her late husband's child - the last hope for the continuation of the Pandava dynasty. This unborn child represented the future of their entire lineage, as most of the Pandava warriors had perished in the war, leaving few heirs to carry forward their legacy.
But even after the war's end, danger lurked. Ashwatthama, the son of Guru Dronacharya, was consumed with rage and grief over his father's death during the war. He blamed the Pandavas for using deceitful tactics to kill Dronacharya and was determined to exact revenge by destroying their entire lineage.
The Divine Weapon Unleashed
In his fury, Ashwatthama committed an unforgivable act. He invoked the dreadedBrahmastra - a divine weapon of mass destruction that could not be recalled once launched - and directed it specifically at Uttara's womb, intending to kill the unborn child and end the Pandava lineage forever.
The Brahmastra, blazing like a thousand suns, struck its target with devastating force. The unborn child in Uttara's womb was killed instantly by the divine weapon's power. The hopes of the Pandava dynasty seemed to die with that innocent life, and grief engulfed the entire family.
Lord Krishna's Divine Intervention
However, Lord Krishna, the divine protector of the Pandavas and the avatar of Lord Vishnu, could not allow such injustice to prevail. Seeing the grief of the family and understanding the cosmic implications of the dynasty's end, he decided to intervene with his divine powers.
Lord Krishna's Divine Miracle
Reviving Parikshit - The "Jivitputrika"
Krishna approached Uttara and, placing his blessed hands on her womb, performed a miracle that has been remembered for millennia. He transferred all the merit of his own countless good deeds - the accumulated spiritual power of the Supreme Lord himself - to the lifeless child within her womb.
The Miracle of Revival
Through Krishna's divine grace, the child was restored to life. The dead fetus began to show signs of life once again - a heartbeat returned, movement was felt, and the child who had been declared lost was miraculously revived. This unprecedented act of divine compassion saved not just one life, but the entire future of the righteous Pandava lineage.
When the child was born, he was given the name "Parikshit" - meaning "the examined one" or "the tested one" - because he had been tested by death itself and emerged victorious through divine grace. But in the context of this miracle, he was also poetically called "Jivitputrika" - literally meaning "the living son" or "the one given life."
The Royal Legacy
King Parikshit grew up to become one of the most just and righteous rulers in Indian history. His reign was marked by prosperity, justice, and dharma. He became the grandfather of the famous King Janamejaya, thus ensuring the continuation of the noble Pandava lineage for generations to come.
According to some traditions, it was Sage Markandeya or Vyasawho advised the Pandava women to observe a special fast on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month - the very date on which this miraculous revival had occurred - to honor and remember this divine intervention.
Connection to Jivit Putrika
This Mahabharata story provides several key connections to the Jivit Putrika vrat:
- Origin of the Name: "Jivitputrika" literally comes from this story - the child who was given life again
- Date Significance: The festival date corresponds to when this miracle occurred
- Divine Grace: Shows how the Supreme Lord protects children when mothers pray sincerely
- Scriptural Authority: Provides Vedic-Puranic sanction to the folk traditions
- Maternal Protection: Demonstrates that a mother's devotion can invoke divine intervention
Thus, when mothers observe Jivit Putrika vrat today, they are connecting with this ancient tradition of seeking divine protection for their children, following the example set by the Pandava women who first honored this miraculous revival with their own fasting and prayers.
The Eternal Message
These three sacred stories, though different in origin and style, carry the same eternal message: the power of selfless love, sincere devotion, and maternal sacrifice can invoke divine grace to protect our children from all dangers.
Shared Wisdom
Ultimate Sacrifice
Love that transcends self-interest
Divine Protection
Sacred shield around the innocent
Cosmic Justice
Truth and righteousness prevail