Roth teej special🙆🙆

Jainism is a religion which celebrates renunciation seeking the goal of salvation through the difficult path of Samyak Darshan, Samyak Gyan and Samyak Charitra (self introspection, self enlightenment and self-achievement). The festivals celebrated in Jainism are therefore marked not by excesses but by Tyag and Tapsaya (renunciation and austerity). Paryushan Parva is considered to be the most revered of all Jain festivals. It is celebrated in the sacred month of Bhadrapada as per the Hindu calender (usually falling in the months of August or September as per the English Calender.) In the Parushan Parva, all Jains keep some vrats/niyams as per thier wishes and follow them.

Roth Teej  falling on  Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya as per the Hindu calender is one such Vrata which is usually kept by the ladies of the House, but the food prepared on this Vrata, modest yet delicious, is enjoyed by all and sundry. The story of the Vrata reads as under:

Roth Teej Vrata  Katha

Once upon a time there lived a Seth (businessman) by the name of Sagar Dutt in the city of Ujjaini with his wife and seven sons. One day Sagar Dutt’s wife, the Sethani went to a temple where a saint was living. She asked the saint to give her a simple vrata which she would keep for the well being of her family.The saint asked her to keep the vrata of Roth Teej. In this vrata, she was to eat only one type grain for only once a day. She came home only to be chided by the family to get involved into frivolous things .She therefore did  not follow the vrata.

Someday after the Seth suffered huge losses in the business and lost all his wealth. The family moved out of their city and went to friends’ and relatives’ home but as fate would have it, were turned down from every where.

Then they went to the city of Hastinapur and stayed in the temple where they met the wife of Seth Samudra Dutt and made her their sister (dharm bahan) . On the occasion of roth teej, she sent roth made by her for the family. On seeing the roth, the Sethani remembered her vrata. She kept her vrata again whole heartedly with belief and reverence.

Things began to change and soon they were prosperous again. From this episode they learnt that material wealth is the most fickle and only Tyag and Tapasya can lead to true happiness. They affirmed their belief in Vratas and Tyag and continued to keep the Vrata every year with reverence.