There is a very detailed account of our Puranas on
this rare and most efficacious Vrat or vow for Gauri (Parvati). One who reads
of recites this story every day, for one year, will get worthy spouse.
It is deemed that this Vrat has been in place since
remote past by tradition. This Vrat grants husbands as desired by women i.e.
according to their genuine wishes. By this Vrat, a woman obtains a highly
affectionate husband. A girl (i.e. the aspirant) should fast on the previous
day (i.e. before commencement of the month concerned), wash off the clothes (to
be used the next day) and lead a restrained life. On the next day i.e. on the
day of the month of Margasira commences (i.e. Shukal Paksh, Padyami, or the
first lunar day of the bright half of Margasira month, with the Nirayana Sun
transiting in Scorpio), she should take bath in nearby river and wear the
previously washed robes. In a sacred pot, the six prescribed deities viz.
Ganesha, Surya, Agni (fire), Vishnu, Siva and Durga should be invoked after
worshipping them with various articles offering the five kinds of Upacharas
(oblations like clothes and ornaments). Before the Kalasa (sacred pot), a
square vedi (i.e. square area of ground to serve for sacrificial altar, having
receptacles for the sacrificial fire) should be prepared. Sandal, incense,
Kasturi (musk) and Kumkuma (vermillion) should be applied on the Vedi. An idol
of Durga with ten arms should be got made of sand. A mark of saffron should be
applied on the forehead of the idol, and an offer of camphor and sandal should
also be made on the other part of the body of the idol. The goddess should be
invoked with prayers. Then the following Mantra should be recited.
The idol of Durga should be worshipped with the
above cited Mantra, after taking a Sankalpa (resolution) along with the
following Moola Mantra, stipulated in Saama Veda.
Reciting these Mantras, the goddess should be
sprayed with the most secretive prayers conjoined even to the most excellent of
sages. Men of attainment pray to Durga, the destroyer of evil manifestations,
on these lines.
Different types of Austerities
In Garuda Puran while replying to the quarries of
Garuda, Lord Vishnu described a lot of austerities, few of them are-
Yama (Restraining Passion)- This
particular austerity comprises of ten virtues- Celibacy, Forgiveness,
Meditation, Truthfulness, Honesty, Non-violence, Not stealing, Gentleness and
Self control.
Niyama (Daily Routine)- This
austerity stresses the importance of purity: both of the body as well as of the
mind. It comprises of the following activities: bathing daily, contemplation,
observing fast, performing oblations, self study, abstinence, penance, avoiding
anger, being respectful towards teacher and Purity.
Mahasantapan Vrata- This
particular austerity comprises of specific rituals related with the usage of
`Panchagavya’ (a mixture of cow milk, curd, ghee, cow urine and cow dung). On
the first day of the austerity a devotee should have only milk, on the second
day curd, on the third day `ghee’, on the fourth day `gomutra’ (cow urine), on
the fifth day `gomaya’ (cow dung), on the sixth day he should live only on
`kushodak’ (drinking water from a vessel in which `kusha’ grass have been
kept) and on the last day of the austerity he should observe complete fast.
Parna Krichchha Vrata- Separate
solutions of `Palash’ (Butea frondosa), `Gular’ (Ficus glomerata), `Kamal’
(lotus) and `Bael’ tree (wood apple) are prepared after boiling the leaves of
respective vegetation mentioned above. On the first day of the austerity a
devotee should have only `Palash’ solution while on the second day he should
have `Gular’ solution. On the third day he should have `Kamal’ solution, while
on the fourth day he should live only on `Bael’ solution. On the fifth day of
the austerity he should live only on `Kusha’ grass solution and nothing else.
This is the manner in which the austerity of `Parnakrichchha vrata’ is
observed.
Tapta Krichchha Vrata- A person
observing this austerity should begin by having hot milk on the first day
followed by tepid ghee and lukewarm water on the second and third day
respectively. He should observe a complete fast on the fourth day.
Paad Krichchha Vrata- This
particular austerity lasts for four days. On the first day a devotee should
observe `Ekabhakta vrata’ (having food only a day in the noon). On the second
day he should observe `Nakta’ vrata (having food only once a day in the night).
On the third day he should break his fast by having whatever is available with
him because anything that has been provided by others is strictly prohibited.
He should observe a total fast on the fourth day. When a devotee observes these
cycles of austerity for three times then it is called `Prajapatya krichchhra
vrata’.
Ati Krichchha Vrata- Rituals of
this austerity is more or less similar to that of Prajapatya krichchhra vrata
with a slight difference- here fast is broken with a handful of cooked food.
When this particular ritual is observed for four days then it is called
Atikrichchha vrata.
Krichchha Atikrichha Vrata- Observing
the rituals of Atikrichchha vrata for twenty-one days living only on milk and
water is called Krichchhakrichha vrata.
Parak Vrata- Observing complete
fast for twelve continuous days is called Parak vrata.
Chandrayan Vrata- It’s an important
austerity lasting for a month which commences on First day of the bright half
of a month by observing fast for the whole day and breaking it in the night with
one morsel of food. On the next day, i.e. `dwitiya’ one morsel of food is
increased which means that instead of one morsel of food now two morsels are
taken. This way one morsel of food is increased on each of the following days
till the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) when the fast is broken by having
fourteen morsels of food. A total fast is observed on `Amavasya’ (dark Moon).
On the next day i.e. first day of the dark half of the month one morsel is
decreased which means that the devotee should break his fast with thirteen
morsel of food. This way one morsel is decreased on each successive day till
`chaturdashi’ when a devotee breaks his fast by having only one morsel of food.
This is the way, how a Chandrayan vrata should be observed.
Anang Trayodashi Vrata- This
austerity is related with the worship of Lord Shiva and commences on the
thirteenth day of the bright half of the Hindu month Margashirsh and lasts for
a year. It concludes exactly after a year when `Rati’ and `Anang’ are
worshipped with appropriate rituals. Ten thousand offerings are made in the
sacrificial fire. Brahmins are fed and donations made to them. One who observes
this austerity is blessed with health, wealth and good fortune.
Akhand Dwadashi Vrata- This
austerity is related with the worship of Lord Vishnu. It commences on the
twelfth day of the bright half of the Hindu month Margashirsh and lasts for a
year consisting of three phases. One important characteristic of this austerity
is that after four months, which is the first phase of the austerity, five
vessels filled with food-grains are donated to Brahmins. In the second phase of
the austerity consisting of four months and commencing from the Hindu month
Chaitra, pots filled with parched grams are donated to Brahmins. Similarly, in the
third and final phase of the austerity pots filled with ghee are donated to
Brahmins.
Shiva Ratri Vrata- This
austerity is related with the worship of Lord Shiva and a fast is observed on
the fourteenth day of the dark half of the Hindu month Phalgun. A devotee
should observe fast in the night and worship Lord Shiva by chanting `Om Namah
Shivay’. He should perform `haven’ with black sesame seeds and worship Lord
Shiva at midnight, in the third and the fourth `prahar’ (one prahar equals
three hour) with appropriate rituals. One who observes fast on this day gets
all his wishes fulfilled and attains salvation as well. A devotee who observes
Shiva Ratri fast for twelve successive years acquires knowledge, wealth,
success and happiness. Such a man also attains to Shiva loka after his death.
Virtues of Observing Fast on Shiva Ratri Night- During
ancient times there lived a hunter named Sundarsen in the province of Arbuda.
One day, he went deep into the forest in search of his prey but unfortunately
he found none. He wandered all over the place but in vain. When evening came,
he climbed up a wood apple (Bael) tree to protect himself from the wild
animals. Sundarsen was worried that his family would have nothing to eat the
night. Engrossed in his contemplative mood, he kept on plucking leaves from the
`Bael’ tree and throwing them down. There was a Shiva linga just under the tree
and the leaves, which Sundarsen threw, fell down on it.
Next morning while Sundarsen ws climbing down the
tree, his arrow fell down. While picking up his arrow, he touched the Shiva
linga. Sundarsen was unaware of the fact that it was Shivaratri night and he
had worshiped Lord Shiva with appropriate rituals albeit inadvertently he had
offered Bilva patra to Lord Shiva and had touched the Shiva linga. He attained
to Shiva loka on account of the virtues attained by his inadvertent worship of
Lord Shiva.
Dr. Shanker Adawal
Profile: www.connectingmind.comResearch work and
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