Description of the Vratas to be observed on Caturdafi (fourteenth day in a lunar fortnight)

Sanatana said:

1. О Narada, listen. I shall recount to you the holy rites to be observed on the Caturdafi (fourteenth) days (of lunar fortnights). On observing these holy rites, a man shall attain his cherished desires in this world.

2-4a. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Chaitra, magnificent worship of Shiva should be perform­ed with saffron, agallochum, sandal paste, scents, and other things, clothes and ornaments. Erecting the canopy, the banner and the umbrellas, the mothers are to be worshipped. О Brah­ma na, by performing the worship thus alongwith the observance of fast or taking a single meal on that day, the man obtains merit more than that of a horse-sacrifice, on this Earth.

4b-5a. On this very same day, the devotee should per­form Damanarca (worship by means of Damanaka leaves and fragrant flowers). When the Vrata is concluded the devotee should dedicate the fruit to Shiva of auspicious form.

5b-8a. On the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Vaishakha, the intelligent devotee should observe fast. At sunset he should take bath and wear clean white clothes and worship Linga with scents and other Upacaras and the leaves of a Bilva tree. After giving invitation to a prominent Brahmana, he should take food on the next day. О excellent Brahmana on all Caturdafis in the dark halves of the months, the holy rites Shivaratra Vrata should be performed by one who wishes for wealth and progeny.

8b-13. The devotee should observe the holy Vrata of Shri- Nrsimha1 on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month, of Vaishakha. If he is physically capable, he should observe fast.

Otherwise, he should take a single meal on thaj day. At sunset he should worship Nrsimha, the slayer of the Daityas, with all the sixteen Upacaras and ablutions with Paftcamrta. Then, О Narada, with the following Mantra, he should crave forgiveness of the Lord — “O Divine Lion with the mane resembling molten gold, with eyes shining like fire and with the toucli of claws sharper than thunderbolt, obeisance be to you.” After praying thus to the Lord of the Devas, the observer of holy rite should lie down on the bare ground. He should subdue his sense-organs and anger and should eschew all worldly pleasures. О Brahmana, he who duly performs this excellent holy rite every year, attains all pleasures and (after death) Hari’s region.

1. VV. 8b-13 describe wha< is popularly known as Nrsimha Jayanti as Vishnu manifested himself on Vaiakha Su 14 as Narasiihha in the evening on Svatl Nakshatra. The NP. calls this simply as NxsMia-Vraia. a confusing designation, as we have Nrnmha Vratas on 8th, 12th and the 13th Tilhis of different months (vide HD. V. I, pp. 328-329).

14-15. О leading sage, the pilgrimage to Omkaresvara is also to be undertaken on this day. The worship of that deity is very difficult to be obtained. The vision of deity is destruc­tive of sins. Of what avail is much talk? Whatever is accessible, the worship of the deity, meditation, Japa or the vision of the deity is the bestower of perfect knowledge and salvation.

16- 18a. On this day, the holy rite of Linga-Vrata is to be performed. It is destructive of sins. Linga is bathed in Panchamrta and saffron is smeared over it. Fruits are offered as Naivedyas. Incense, lights, clothes and ornaments are offered duly. He who worships Linga made of ground flour, attains worldly pleasures and salvation, thanks to the grace of Mahadeva. This Linga is the bestower of achievements of all objects.

18b-19a. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Jyestha, the devotee performs austerities in the midst of five fires, during the day time, at night-fall he should make a gift of a golden cow. This is called Rudravrata1.

19b-20a. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Asatfha, the devotee should worship Shiva by means of the flowers of the season and clime. The man who performs worship thus shall attain all riches.

1. Rudra-Vrata: This is Parlcdgnisddhana. Kane notes another variety HD. V. i. 393-94.

20b-22. The holy rite of Pavitraropana is to be observed on the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Sravana. О excellent Brahmana, that has to be performed in accordance with the injunctions laid down in his own branch of the Veda. He should repeat the Mantra a hundred times and dedicate it to the Goddess. By performing the rite of Pavitraropana,1 2 any person, be it a man or a woman, shall attain worldly pleasures and salvation by the grace of the great Goddess (MahadevI).

23-27. The excellent holy rite of Ananta Caturdasi is to be performed on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada. The devotee should take only a single meal on that day. He cooks the Prastha-measure of ground wheat flour smeared with ghee and mixed with sugar and offers it to Ananta as Naivedya after worshipping him at the outset with scents. The old thread worn round the hand is taken off and thrown into the water. A new thread of silken or cotton cord is taken and fourteen knots are tied. The woman devotee wears this on her left hand and the male devotee on his right hand. After cooking the ground flour, he should give it as gift alongwith Daksina. He himself shall take in moderate (quantity of) food. The intelligent devotee should perform this excellent Vrata for twice seven years and then perform Udyapana (Valedictory) rite.

1. VV. 2Ob-22 mention the outline of Pavitraropana Vrata. For details vide HD V. i. 339-40. The NP does not clarify that Pavitra is the sacred thread YajHopavita.

2. W. 23-33a describe Ananta-caturdaH Vrata. Ananta is a form of Hari. It is a very popular Vrata and is described with slight variations in the procedure in AP. 192. 7-10, the Bhaoifjottara and Vratirka. HemAdri (Vrata II pp, 26-36) gives an elaborate description of this Vrata quoting the story of Каодфпуа and his wife Siti Kautrfinya losing every thing by cutting the Ananta-thread from his wife’s hand and regaining it after propitiation of Ananta. Kane (HD. V. I. pp. 151-53) does not clarify how a thread could represent Kr?Qa. Ananta is the name of Serpent Se?a. Is it an assimilation of the cult of serpent-worship in Brahmanism?

28-33a. The devotee draws the mystic diagram Sarvato- Bhadra by means of coloured power and grains. О sage, after making it splendid, the devotee places a copper pot over it. The auspicious golden image of Ananta is then placed over the Kalasha (vessel) of copper and covered with a yellow silken cloth. He shall then worship the image in accordance with the injunc­tions. He should severally worship Gagesha, Mothers, planets and the ten guardians of the worlds, quarters. He then performs Нота with Havishya (cooked rice soaked in ghee) alongwith the Piirnahuti. О excellent Brahmana, to his preceptor the devotee gives a bed with all adjuncts, a cow and the image of Ananta. With great devotion he should feed fourteen other Brahmagas, with sweet cooked rice, and propitiate them with Dak?inas. He who thus respectfully per­forms the Ananta Vrata, directly enjoys worldly pleasures and attains salvation by the grace of Ananta.

33b-39a. The holy rite of Kadali vrata1 is also to be observed on this day. Listen to its rules of procedure from me. The devotee may be a man or a woman. He should take his bath and worship the plantain tree in the garden by means of scents, fragrant flowers, germinating grains as well as curds, Durva grass, raw rice-grains, lights, clothes and diverse kinds of cooked food. After the worship, the observer of the holy rite should pray with this Mantra: (<0 plantain tree, who are worshipped by the Apsaras, Amara (divine) virgins and the serpent virgins, О goddess, obeisance be to you. Grant me freedom from ailment in the body and also loveliness.” After the prayer the devotee should feed four virgins or Suvasinis (married women); they should be provided with silken cloth, saffron powder, collyrium and red lac juice. After bowing to them and concluding the observance, he or she should go back to the house. О Brahmana, if this Vrata is performed thus the devotee obtains excellent conjugal bliss in this world. After death, he shall go to the heavenly world in an aerial chariot.

1. W 336-39a describe the Kadali Vrata — wherein the plantain tree is the beauty-giving deity. Hemadri, on the authority of Bhaaifyottara details it (Vrata II. 132-33). This is another instance of assimilation of the cult of tree worship in Brahmanism.

39b-43a. On the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Alvina, the Sraddha rites of the following categories of persons are performed viz. those who are killed by means of poison or weapons; those who are drowned in water, those who are burnt by fire, those who are bitten by serpents or mauled by beasts of prey, those who are killed by thunderbolt and those who murder Brahmanas. They are performed in accordance with the rules laid down in the case of Ekoddista Sraddhas. Brahmanas are fed with sweet cooked rice. The Tarpana rite is performed, mouthfuls of fodder are given to cows and oblations are given to dogs and crows. After performing these rites and the Acamana rite, the devotee should take his food along with his kinsmen. О Brahmana, he who performs araddha in this manner alongwith the requisite Daksinas shall uplift the Pitrs and go to the eternal world of the Devas.

43b-45. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Alvina О excellent Brahmana, the devotee should perfectly worship the image in gold of Dharmaraja1 with scents etc. After feeding a Brahmana, the image is given to him. О Narada, Dharmaraja protects everyone in the world. He who thus performs the'excellent rite of gifting away the image of Dharmaraja enjoys all excellent pleasures here and at the behest of Dharmaraja goes to the heaven.

46-47. On the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Karttika, the devotee takes oil bath at the rise of the moon. After the bath he should worship Dhartna. The devotee shall attain fearlessness from hell. For the propitiation of Yama, he should light oil lamps at night fall. With great concentration the devotee should place the lamps at the cross-roads or outside the house.

48-52. In the year called Hemalambi, on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the glorious month of Karttika, against the dawn, Lord Viiveivara took his bath in the holy waters at the Manikargika Tfrtha alongwith the Devas. О leading sage, with Bhasma he applied the Tripundra (three parallel marks on the forehead). He worshipped his own self and performed the Pashupata rite. Hence on that day, the devotee should per­form the great worship of the Linga with scents and other things. He should offer worship with the flowers of Drona Bilva leaves, Arka flowers Ketaki flowers, fruits and different kinds of Naivedyas. If the Vrata is thus performed and only a single meal is taken on that day, it satisfies ViSveSa. О Narada, he attains all cherished desires, both here and hereafter.

1. This is not recorded by Kane in HD. V. i.

53-57. On this very day the holy rite of Brahma- kurca Vrata is to be observed by one who wishes for prosperity. Observing fast and controlling the sense-organs, the observer of the vow should drink Paflcagavya at night. The Paflcagavya is made thus:

The urine of a tawny-coloured cow; the dung of a black cow; the milk of a white cow; the curds of a red cowand the ghee of a cow of variegated colours. — all these are taken and mixed together. The devotee then takes his bath in the morning with the water sanctified by Kusha grass and performs the Tarpana rite to the Devas. After propitiating the Brahmanas, he should himself take his food silently. This is the Brahmakurca Vrata1 that destroys all sins. The sin committed during the infancy, youth and old age, is dispelled instantaneously by means of the Brahma-Kurca vrata and the fast on that day.

58-60a. The holy rite of Pasana-Vrata is also to be observed on this day. Listen to it, О Narada. The devotee observes fast during the day. He cooks ground flour in ghee, shaping it in the form of a brick. During the night, he worships Gauri with scents and other things and offers the flour-brick cooked in ghee as Naivedya. О excellent Brahmana, after per­forming this holy rite in the manner mentioned above, the man attains glory, happiness, conjugal bliss and beauty of form.

60b-63. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Margashirsa the devotee takes a single meal or abstains from food and performs the holy rite mentioned before. He should make a gold replica of a bull, worship it and give it to a Brah- mana. On the next day, he should get up early in the morning, take his bath and worship Mahesvara accompanied by Uma, with lotus flowers, scents, fragrant garlands and unguents. He should then feed the Brahmanas with sweet cooked rice and propitiate them with Daksinaetc. О Brahmana, this is called Shiva Vrata. It is the bestower of worldly pleasures and liberation to the performers, to the instructors, to those who assist, and to those who approve.

1. Brahma-Kurca is treated here as a Vrata though it is really a Prajaicilta.

64-66a. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Pausa, the holy rite of Virupaksa vrata is to be observ­ed. The devotee should think thus ‘T shall attain the presence of Kapardl^vara.” Having thought thus, О Brahmana, he should worship Virupaksa Shiva with scents, fragrant garlands, incense, lights, richly prepared cooked rice and obeisances. By giving what is contained therein, the devotee rejoices in the heaven like Deva.

66b-68. On the fourteenth day in the dark half of Magha is prescribed the holy rite of Yamatapana.1 Before the sunrise the devotee must take his bath and perform the rite of Tarpana unto Yama with the fourteen names mentioned be­fore (chap. 119 verses 59-90) for the purpose of liberation from all sins. The Tarpana rite is to be performed by means of gingelly seeds, Darbha grass and water. Krsara and cooked rice cons­titute the meal of the Brahmanas. He himself should eat the same with restricted speech in silence.

69-73a. О Brahmana, the holy rite of Shivaratri2 is to be observed on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the last month (i.e Phalguna). The devotee observes fast, even abjur­ing water, during the day, and worships the deity at night in the self-born Linga etc. or the Linga made of clay with deep concentration of mind. He worships the Lord with scents and other Upacaras, the leaves of the Bilva, etc., water, incense, lights, recitation of hymns, Japa etc. as well as Naivedyas duly offered. On the next day too the deity is again worshipped with the Upacaras. After feeding Brahmanas with sweet cooked rice, he should give them the requisite Daksinas and bid fare­well to them. By performing the Vrata thus, the man obtains immortal pleasures, thanks to the grace of Mahadeva. He is well-honoured and respected by Devas.

1. Kane has recorded a number of Shiva Vratas (HD. V. i. pp. 426-427), but this Vrata is different from them.

2. This is the famous MahaShivardlri-Vrata popular all over India. The NP follows PUrpimdnta reckoning and thus locates it in Phalguna. This Vrata is highly extolled in Garuda P. 1-124, SK. P. 1-1. 33, Pd. P. VI. 240 and AP. 193. The whole Vrata is discussed in details by Kane HD. V. 1-225-236. As compared with other Pura#as and digests, the NP. gives a bare outline of the Vrata.

73b-74. On the fourteenth day, in the bright half of the last month, the devotee worships Durga with great devotion, offering scents and other Upacaras. Thereafter, he feeds the Brahmanas. О Brahmana, he should take only a single meal on that day. By performing the Vrata of Durga thus, he derives cherished desires, both here and hereafter, О Narada.

75-76. The devotee shall observe fast on the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Chaitra. By drinking water from a rice-field on the day one derives the benefit of a horse-sacrifice.

The general procedure regarding Udyapana1 (valedictory rite of conclusion) for all these holy rites is now narrated.

77-79. Fourteen pots with areca nuts, unbroken raw rice- grains and sweet-meats, may be made of copper or clay. They must be fresh and uncracked. The Daksinas and silken garments should also be placed there. Besides these the follow­ing too are to be provided as necessary viz. fourteen bamboo poles, fourteen sacred seats, fourteen vessels and fourteen sacred texts. As for the other things, they should be performed in the manner mentioned before. The devotee should not be stingy in the matter of expenses.

1. VV. 77-79 give the general procedure of the UtfyOpeaa (conclud­ing ceremony) of these CatordaH Vretas.

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