Purnima Vrat

In the Skanda Purana, Lord Vishnu narrated the significance of the Satyanarayana Vrat to sage Narada. The story tells of a poor Brahmin from Sundar Nagar who was constantly begging for food. Lord Vishnu appeared as an old Brahmin and instructed him to perform the Satyanarayana Puja on Purnima to end his poverty. The Brahmin did so, and soon attained wealth and peace. A woodcutter watching the Puja also started performing it, gaining immense prosperity. Later, a wealthy merchant named Sadhu Baniya pledged to perform the Puja if he got a child. After a daughter (Kalavati) was born, his pride made him delay the puja. While traveling on business, the merchant and his son-in-law were falsely accused of theft by King Chandraketu and jailed. Their wealth was confiscated, and Kalavati's house was looted. Realizing their mistake, Kalavati performed the Puja. The King was instructed in a dream by Satyanarayan Dev to release the innocent merchants. On their journey back, the merchant mocked a hermit (who was Satyanarayan in disguise). Instantly, all his goods turned to leaves. Realizing the divine play, the merchant apologized, fell at His feet, and completed the Puja. All his wealth was restored, and his family lived in eternal happiness, realizing that adhering to Truth (Satya) attracts the divine grace.