44. Note on the Dark Monday Somavati. 
By Rat B. A. Guprz, BAHADUR. 
Somavati is the name of the Monday on which a dark 
night or saben alls. It is observed as a fast. The story! 
begins thus 
While Biiahing the old grand-uncle of the Pandavas was 
laid up on his death-bed, he was interrogated by Dharma, the 
eldest of the Pandavas. He said, ‘‘ O sir, the principal chiefs 
survive, and Spree the Empire of which I have just become 
the Ruler not give me any pleasure. While alive, one 
has to bear cine but blame, and even after death, there is 
no salvation in store. I feel depressed at seeing the wholesale 
ong. 
Ashvaththama has through his enchanted weapons as 
killed even the foetus Princess Uttara bears. I am — 
doubly grieved at the prospective extinction of the O 
dee oe orca What can Ido? What will grant me eared 
son. 
sig replied, Be O King! I shall describe aia 
Vrat which will gran t long-lived progeny. O Dharma! on 
dark night falling on a Monday, one should go to an eloatls 
tree (Ficus religiosa) and there worship Jankedie (Vishnu). 
He should offer to God 108 jewels, or coins, or fruits, and go 
round the tree as many times (108). This Vrat is much appre- 
ciated by Vishnu. Let Uttara your brother’s daughter-in-law 
perform this Puja, and her fcetus will regain life. That child, 
when born, will be virtuous and repu 
Dharma said, ‘‘ Pray describe in detail this king of all 
Vratas. Pray tell me who introduced it first, and how it - 
became known on eart 
ishma replied, ‘‘ There is a celebrated city called Kanti. 
All the Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras of that 
city are pious. = contains beautiful palaces, and well-dressed 
men, and wom It is a lovely place. It also contains 
many good- looking and intelligent dancing girls. It is as rich 
as Alaka the capital of Kuber, the Treasurer of the Gods, and 
! It is taken from the Bhavishottar Puran. 
