The Mangalvar or Tuesday is observed to worship Lord Hanuman. Mangalvar (Tuesday) is also observed to propiate the mars, who is a wicked-god. People listen to different stories before breaking their fast. The fast on Mangalvar (Tuesday) is observed for obtaining royal patronage, happiness or for getting a son. People generally wears red clothes at worship and offer red flowers to the deity on Mangalvar (Tuesday).
The first story related to Mangalvar is very interesting. There was a Brahaman`s son who was married at very early age. His mother got ill eventually and he went to his in-laws` house to bring his wife back so that her mother can be taken care of. The boy`s in-laws welcomed him with good foods. But when he expressed his desire his father-in -law said that they are not ready to offer him clothes and cash for the ritual of sending their daughter. The boy replied that their family is not that down-and-out that without the dowry they can not take the bride. Then the bride`s mother said that the bride will be wearing expensive jewelries, who will take care of her? The boy replied that he is enough muscular to protect his wife. The mother-in-law replied that it is the mind power not the muscular power that is needed to guard a lady. The boy replied that he has enough wit to protect his wife.
The young couple started their journey from the village on Tuesday. Mars is the commander of that day. He saw the Brahaman`s beautiful wife and was allured to see such a dazzling beauty. He knew withcraft by which he disguised himself as a Brahaman`s son. He appeared before the couple and threatened the Brahaman`s son to give him the beautiful lady. The Brahamn`s son was baffled at the sight of an identical man. The lady was also bewildered. Some cowherds noticed their quarrel and gathered around them to know the cause.
The Brahaman`s son said that the girl was his wife and the other man was cheating them in a false disguise. The Mars also claimed to be the real husband. One of the cowherds asked the woman to select her real husband. The lady was quite puzzled as she was married very young and have only cast a look on her husband for the first time. She could not differentiate between the two. The matter became complicated. One of the cowherds was very wise. He felt the gravity of the situation and sensed that one of the two men was a spirit. He asked to bring an earthen pot with spout. The men arranged the Kuchcha Karva or the pot with the spout and the wise cowherd announced the lady will belong to that person who could enter the pot through its spout.
The Brahaman`s son could not enter the spout and he was helpless. The cowherd said that he was a cheater. The mars then wanted to show his power. He demanded again the lady as his wife. The clever cowherd said if he could enter the earthen pot through the spout, the lady would be his wife. The Mars was a spirit; he knew the art of changing his body and put it in any shape. He entered the pot through the spout. The cowherd drugged the spout with a tight cork. The Mars was imprisoned in the pot. He could not come out of it. The cowherd dug a deep hole in the ground and put the earthen pot deep into it and fiiled up the hole. The Brahaman`s son was very happy and thanked the cowherd for its intelligence and wisdom.
So it is believed that nobody should dig earth on Tuesday or Mangalvar so that the devil spirit of the Mars remain within the earth forever.
The second story is to adore the grace of Lord Hanumana. The devotees listen to this story before breaking their fast in the afternoon of Mangalvar (Tuesday). The wrestlers do not massage their bodies on this day to avoid hair falling. Some wrestlers observe Mangalvar (Tuesday) as a rest day.
Once there was an old lady who used to observe Mangalvar (Tuesday) fast. She had all sorts of prosperity in her home. Her daughter-in-law used to give her four loaves among which she offered two to Lord Hanumana and ate the rest two by herself when she went to temple for breaking the fast. The daughter-in-law sent her grandchildren to observe what she was doing in the temple. The grandchildren came home and reported. The daughter-in-law thought that the lady wastes two-loaves and from the next day she gave her two loaves only. The old lady offered one to god and took the other one. When her daughter-in-law came to know about this she gave her only one loaf. Again the old lady offered half of the loaf to the god and ate the rest half. The daughter-in-law was now very angry and stopped giving the old lady any food. That Mangalvar (Tuesday) the old lady went to the Hanuman temple empty handed. She had nothing to offer to the god.Lord hanuman appears to her as a young boy and asked her what bothers her that much. The old lady narrated the whole story to the boy. The young boy suggested her to build a small cottage behind the temple and assured her that he will arrange the food as her son. He also reminded her that there would be no use of living with a family, which does not care for the elders.
The old lady agreed and started living in the cottage. Everyday the young boy used to bring a mug full of milk and a lump of crushed bread mixed with sugar and butter (churna) for her. The old lady was living a very happy and peaceful life. Her son and daughter-in-law became poorer and poorer and unwanted quarrel filled their house due to poverty. They also had only little food to eat. The daughter-in-law again sent her children to observe their grandmother.
When the old lady saw her grandchildren she welcomed them and shared milk and Churna with them and also asked them to visit her everyday. The Children went back home and related the event to their mother. She was surprised that her mother-in-law was hale and hearty instead of growing frail. She realized her mistake and asked her husband to bring his mother back. But the husband replied that it was not his fault. His wife was responsible for all their sufferings. She had no regards for her elders, she quarreled badly and was jealous about even her old-mother-in-law`s meager food and forced her to leave the house.
Then the family decided to go to the old lady together to convince her so that she should come back. The young boy was sitting with their mother and serving her food. The old lady`s daughter-in-law begged pardon of her for her misdeeds. The old lady asked the young boy if she could go with her family as they have realized their faults. The young boy agreed and also give option to return if she felt any difficulty.
Old lady returned to the family accompanied by her family members. She continued following Mangalvar (Tuesday) fasting and her daughter-in-law never objected her in giving half of her food to Lord Hanuman. Their house was flourished with prosperity again.
There is another story related to the Mangalvar or Tuesday. The story is about unwanted suspicion, doubt or misbelieve that creates unhappiness in the family. Finally a moral is set up through this story that steadfast faith in one god brings happiness and a chaste life is above suspicion.
Once there lived a Brahman couple whose life was full of unhappiness, as they had no issue. The Brahman went to jungle and meditated to appease Lord Hanuman. He was praying the Lord for a child. His wife used to observe fast on Tuesdays to propitiate the Lord and she only took food on those days after offering to Lord Hanuman.
Once the lady observed a special fast for the whole day and so she could offer no food to the Lord Hanuman. She was very sorry for it and felt guilty. She decided to observe a fast till the next Tuesday. She said to herself that she would take her meals only after offering Prasad to Lord Hanuman after a week. But she became so weak and fragile that she fainted due to the long fast. Lord Hanuman took pity on her and appeared before her in the guise of a small child. He blessed her with a beautiful son, who will serve her day and night and then the Lord disappeared.
Eventually the lady got a beautiful son. She named him Mangal. The Brahaman returned home after some months. He saw a handsome child playing in his courtyard. He became suspicious about his wife whom he thought to be involved in adultery. The women said to him that she was a chaste lady and Lord Hanuman blessed her with the child. The husband kept mum but deep in his heart doubts began to curl up every moment.
One day the Brahaman was going to take bath in a nearby well. His wife requested him to take Mangal with him so that he can fetch him water and rub his back. The Brahaman agreed as he thought that it would be the great opportunity to get rid of the sinful boy. When the boy was about to fetch the water, he pushed him into the well and returned back home.
The woman found neither any wet dhoti on her husband`s shoulder, nor the boy with him. She started crying, and the Brahman started feeling guilty. The lady was crying by her son`s name. To their surprise Mangal appeared at the door. He embraced his mother and touched his father`s feet. Then Lord Hanuman appeared before the Brahman in his dream and asked him to feel sorry for suspecting his wife wrongly.
The Brahman realized his mistakes. They then regularly observed Mangalvar (Tuesday) fasts and led a happy life ever after. It is believed that whosoever reads or listens to the story and keep fasting on Mangalvar (Tuesday) , Lord Hanuman protects him/her from all the evil and bestows with all happiness.
