Devalok
Folk tale · 1 telling · North India

The twelve years Lakshmi served (the Dhanteras katha)

Vishnu lets Lakshmi come down to earth with him if she will not look south; drawn by mustard flowers and sugarcane she goes, picks and eats, and must serve the poor farmer whose field it was for twelve years. His house prospers; when Vishnu comes for her the farmer will not let her go; she reveals herself and promises to return every year on the night of Krishna Trayodashi if his house is clean and a lamp burns, which is the Dhanteras puja.

Who is in it

  • Lakshmi looks south, serves twelve years, promises to return
  • Vishnu sets the condition, comes back disguised as a plain man
  • Kubera joined to her worship on the night

The story, beat by beat

  1. Vishnu goes down to earth; Lakshmi asks to come and he agrees on condition that she does not look to the south.
  2. Her restless nature wins; she looks south, sees mustard in flower and sugarcane, goes in, wears the flowers and drinks the cane juice.
  3. Vishnu orders her to serve the farmer whose field it was for twelve years as penance.
  4. The poor farmer prospers from the day she enters his house.
  5. After twelve years Vishnu comes disguised as an ordinary man; the farmer refuses to release her.
  6. Lakshmi reveals herself and promises to visit every year on Krishna Trayodashi before Diwali if the house is clean and a ghee lamp burns all night.
  7. The farmer keeps the night and stays rich; his neighbours follow; Kubera is later worshipped with her.

wealth promise temptation festival

How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Folk documentation

The Dhanteras vrat katha of north India

North India · hi Folk Hindi-speaking households; read before the evening Lakshmi-Kubera puja 🪔 Dhanteras

Vishnu sets out for the earth and Lakshmi asks to come; he agrees if she will not be tempted by earthly things and will not look south. Her chanchal nature wins: she looks south, sees fields of yellow mustard and sugarcane, decorates herself with the flowers and drinks the cane juice. Vishnu orders twelve years' service as penance to the poor farmer who grew them. The farmer grows rich and prosperous from her presence. After twelve years Vishnu comes disguised as an ordinary man; the farmer refuses to release her and will not be persuaded. Lakshmi reveals herself, says she must return to Vaikuntha, and promises to visit every year on the night of Krishna Trayodashi before Diwali. The farmer cleans his house and keeps a ghee lamp burning all night each year and stays prosperous; others follow; the night becomes the worship of Lakshmi with Kubera, Dhanatrayodashi.

Dhanteras katha: how the Dhanteras puja began, the story of Mata Lakshmi and the farmer (Hindi), Patrika, 7 November 2023; Dhanteras legends: Goddess Lakshmi and the farmer, Dhanvantari Trayodashi, Kubera, Drik Panchang; Story of Dhanteras: legend, traditions and other aspects, Exotic India

Sources: Dhanteras katha: how the Dhanteras puja began, the story of Mata Lakshmi and the farmer (Hindi), Patrika, 7 November 2023; Dhanteras legends: Goddess Lakshmi and the farmer, Dhanvantari Trayodashi, Kubera, Drik Panchang; Story of Dhanteras: legend, traditions and other aspects, Exotic India

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