Fasting on Wednesdays pleases Lord Mercury

 

Wednesday is a very important day according to Hindu beliefs. It is on this day that Wednesday Vrata is observed, fasting on Wednesday to seek the blessings of Lord Mercury. This fast is observed to restore peace and prosperity in the world. According to tradition, fasting on Wednesday requires one meal during the day and one meal at night. Green things are to be used in this fast - like green vegetables in food, green clothes etc. After fasting for the whole day, Lord Shiva should be worshiped with incense, bel leaves etc. Prasad should be taken after Wednesday story and Puja of Budhdev. Prasad should consist of jaggery, rice and curd and white flowers should be offered to the Lord on this day.

Wednesday is an auspicious day for Ganesh Puja:

There is a custom of worshiping Lord Ganesha on Wednesday, so Wednesday is considered as Lord Ganesha's day. If a person has Mercury debilitated in Kusthi, he should perform Ganesh Puja and fast on Wednesday. It is said that any auspicious work should be started on Wednesday. According to mythological belief, when Lord Ganesha was born, Lord Mercury was present in Kailasa. Due to the presence of Lord Mercury, Ganesh Puja is started every Wednesday since then.

According to the Vrata, there lived a man named Madhusudan in the city of Samtapur. He was very rich. Madhusudan was married to a beautiful daughter of Balrampur city. Once Madhusudan went to Balrampur on a Wednesday to pick up his wife. But his mother-in-law said, today is Wednesday. Do not travel on Wednesday for any auspicious work. But Madhusudan did not agree. He left in a bullock cart with his wife. After going some distance, one of the wheels of his car broke. From there both started the journey on foot. On the way, his wife got very thirsty. Madhusudan sat him under a tree and went to fetch water. After some time, when Madhusudan returned with the water, he was surprised to find another person of the same appearance sitting next to his wife. The wife was also surprised to see Madhusudan. He could not distinguish between the two. Madhusudan asked the man, 'Who are you and why are you sitting next to my wife?' Hearing Madhusudan, the man said, 'Hey brother, this is my wife. I have come to take my wife home from her in-laws. But who are you to ask me such a question?' Madhusudan said, 'You must be a thief. This is my wife Sangeeta. I went to fetch him water sitting under a tree.' Then the man said - 'Hey brother! you are lying I went to fetch water. I even brought water and made my wife drink. Now you quietly leave here. Otherwise I will call a soldier and hand you over.' A fight started between the two over this. Many people gathered there to see their fight. Some soldiers of the city also come there. The soldiers caught both of them and took them to the king. After hearing the whole incident, the king could not take any decision. Meanwhile, Madhusudan's wife is also in doubt about the original and fake.

The king asked to send both of them to jail. The real Madhusudan was frightened by the king's decision. Then the sky said - 'Madhusudan! You made a mistake by leaving your in-laws house on Wednesday without listening to your elders. So all this happened because of Lord Budhdev's anger.

Madhusudan prayed to Lord Buddha, 'O Lord Buddha, forgive me. I made a big mistake. In future, I will never travel on Wednesdays and I will observe your fast every Wednesday.

Lord Budhadeva pardoned Madhusudan after his prayers. Then the other man disappeared from before the king. The king and others were amazed at this miracle. By this grace of Lord Budhadeva, the king respectfully sent away Madhusudan and his wife.

After some distance they saw a bullock cart on the road. The broken wheel of the bullock cart was also attached. Both sat in it and went towards Samtapur. Madhusudan and his wife both fasted every Wednesday and began to live happily and peacefully. Thus, by the grace of Lord Budhdev, the rain of happiness started in everyone's life. Thus all men and women who fast on Wednesdays and listen to this story of fasting, Lord Mercury removes all their sufferings.