Story Of Sri Hanuman( The Story of a Saturday )

The Story of Maruti and the Saturday

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a Brahmin with his wife and their married son. The son was often away for work, leaving the three at home most of the time. As was the tradition in those days, the Brahmin and his wife would beg for alms and eat only what they received. Their daughter-in-law stayed at home, caring for her elderly in-laws. She would cook for them and eat only after they had their fill of the alms brought home.

One day, the Brahmin and his wife decided to go on a pilgrimage to visit holy places, leaving their daughter-in-law alone at home. During this time, the first Saturday of the four holy months of Chaturmaas, known as Sampat Shanivar, arrived.

That morning, a small boy came to their house and called out to the daughter-in-law. Curious, she stepped out to see who it was. The boy asked her to bathe him and feed him. In those times, feeding the hungry was considered virtuous, so she wanted to help. However, there was hardly any food at home, and even the oil needed to bathe the boy was in short supply.

The boy reassured her, saying there would be enough oil to apply to his head, and she could use it to bathe him properly. Trusting his words, she washed the boy, prepared a simple meal, fed him, and ate whatever remained.

This pattern continued for four consecutive Saturdays. On the final Saturday, after his meal, the boy scattered a handful of rice grains all over the house. To her astonishment, the modest house disappeared, and in its place stood a grand mansion!

The mansion was magnificent, filled with servants, a storehouse overflowing with sacks of grains, and a stable teeming with cattle. Before she could say anything, the boy vanished.

When the Brahmin and his wife returned from their pilgrimage, they couldn’t recognize their home. They stood in awe before the splendid mansion, wondering whose house it was. Their daughter-in-law greeted them at the doorway with the ceremonial items to welcome them.

She then narrated the entire incident—the small boy's visits, how she bathed and fed him on the four Saturdays, and how the house transformed. Being wise and pious, the Brahmin realized that the boy was no other than Shri Maruti (Hanuman) in disguise. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the family gathered in their new home and offered prayers to Shri Maruti.

Just as Shri Maruti was pleased with their devotion and blessed them with prosperity, may he bless us all with happiness and abundance.

Thus ends the story of Maruti and the Saturday.