Gud Chana Prasad for Santoshi Mataसंतोषी माता का गुड़-चना प्रसाद

Gud and chana, jaggery and roasted gram, are the heart of the Santoshi Mata Vrat. They are placed on the kalash before the goddess, held in the hand while the katha is heard, given to a cow and shared with the family as prasad. Nothing could be simpler, and that simplicity is part of the vow's meaning. This page explains what the prasad is, why these two things are used, how to prepare or buy them, and how to offer and distribute the prasad without breaking the rule against sour food.

What the prasad is

The prasad of Santoshi Mata is a small quantity of gud (jaggery) mixed or served with roasted chana. The chana is usually whole black gram (kala chana) roasted dry, sometimes with the husk on, and in some homes roasted split gram is used instead. The two are kept together in a small bowl (katori). Some families also offer bananas or a simple sweet, but gud and chana are the essential offering and are never left out.

Why gud and chana

In the vrat katha, the poor young wife learns the vrat from other women and begins it with gud and chana bought for a very small sum, because that is all she can afford. Her devotion, not the value of the offering, wins the Mother's blessing. For devotees, gud and chana therefore stand for humble, sincere worship that anyone can offer. Jaggery is sweet and wholesome, chana is plain and filling, and neither is sour, which suits a vow whose central rule is to avoid sour food. The goddess of contentment, according to tradition, is pleased with a simple offering made with a full heart.

How to prepare or buy it

• Gud: plain jaggery from the shop is fine. Break it into small pieces. Avoid flavoured jaggery or jaggery sweets with added lemon, tamarind or other sour ingredients.
• Chana: roasted chana is sold ready in most grocery shops. To roast at home, wash whole black gram, dry it well, and dry-roast it in a heavy pan or kadhai on low heat, stirring until it is crisp and fragrant. Some families roast it in sand in the traditional way.
• Quantity: a small bowl is enough for the puja, with a little more for distribution. Many keep a separate packet just for the vrat, so it stays clean and is not touched by sour food.
• Cleanliness: prepare it after bathing, in a clean vessel, and keep it apart from pickles, lemon or other sour items in the kitchen.

The list of other things needed for the puja is on the puja samagri page.

How to offer it in the puja

1. Place the picture of Santoshi Mata on a chowki covered with a red cloth, with a kalash of water in front of it.
2. Put the bowl of gud and chana on the mouth of the kalash.
3. Light the ghee lamp and incense, and offer red flowers, roli and akshat.
4. Take a little gud and chana in your hand and listen to or read the katha. At the end, say "Jai Santoshi Mata".
5. Do the aarti, then offer the gud-chana you were holding as described below.

The full order of the puja is given in the vrat vidhi. Customs vary by family and region.

Offering it to a cow

After the puja, the gud-chana held in the hand during the katha is traditionally fed to a cow. The cow is revered in Hindu tradition, and feeding her is considered a meritorious act. If no cow is nearby, many devotees put this portion aside respectfully and give it to a cow later, or place it at the foot of a tree or in clean flowing water, according to family custom. It should not simply be thrown away.

Distributing the prasad

The rest of the gud and chana from the bowl is shared as prasad with family members, neighbours and children. The devotee usually takes a little first, before the meal that ends the fast. Prasad is received with both hands or the right hand, and with respect. Because the devotee must not give sour food to anyone that day, make sure nothing sour is served alongside the prasad. Many families also share gud-chana with the eight boys at the udyapan.

What not to add

• Nothing sour: no lemon, tamarind, amchur, chaat masala, curd or sour fruit.
• No chana prepared with lemon or tangy spices, such as chana chaat or masala chana from a packet.
• No onion or garlic, which many homes avoid in prasad.
• No leftover or stale food, and nothing already tasted before the offering.

A note for those with health conditions

Jaggery is a form of sugar. People with diabetes or other health conditions may take only a token amount of the prasad, as a blessing. This is not a substitute for medical advice; if you feel unwell, please consult a doctor.