Anaṅga Trayodaśī Vrata
Anaṅga Trayodaśī Vrata, “the thirteenth-day vow of Anaṅga”
The Anaṅga Trayodaśī Vrata is a twelve-month vrata of Bhagavān Śiva. It is kept on the Śukla Trayodaśī (the thirteenth day of the bright half) of each month, from Mārgaśīrsha through Kārtika. Each month Bhagavān Śiva is worshipped under a set name, with set flowers, a set danta-dhāvana (a twig for cleaning the teeth) and a set naivedya (food offering). At the end of the year a gold image of Anaṅgadeva (Manmatha, also called Kāma) with Rati is set up and worshipped, and ten thousand āhutis (offerings into the fire) are made to them. The Garuḍa Purāṇa gives it in the Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 117.
The Agni Purāṇa (Chapter 191) gives the Anaṅga Trayodaśī first among the vratas of the trayodaśī, which Agni Deva says give everything. Long ago, Anaṅga (Manmatha) himself kept this vrata. On the śukla trayodaśī of each month, beginning with Mārgaśīrsha, Bhagavān Śiva is worshipped under a set name, beginning with Hara in the form of Kāmadeva, and the observer takes a set food or drink. When the year is complete, a golden Śiva-liṅga is given away with a cow, a bed and other gifts. The vrata gives svarga and saubhāgya.
The monthly observance
On the Śukla Trayodaśī of each month the observer fasts (upavāsa) and worships Bhagavān Śiva with the materials of that month.
| Month | Name of Bhagavān Śiva | Flowers | Naivedya | Danta-dhāvana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mārgaśīrsha | Śiva | Mallikā flowers | Honey | Mallikā twig |
| Pushya | Yogeśvara | Bilva leaves | — | Kadamba twig |
| Māgha | Naṭanāgara | Kunda flowers and a pearl garland | — | Śāka twig |
| Phālguṇa | Vīreśvara | Marūbaka flowers | Cakkelā, vegetables and rice-water | Mango twig |
| Caitra | Surūpa | — | Pūrī | Majji twig; camphor is offered at night |
| Vaiśākha | Saṃhārakāraka | Damanaka | Upma and jaggery | Gūlar twig |
| Jyeshṭha | Pradyumna | Campaka flowers | — | Bilva twig; cloves are offered |
| Āshāḍha | Umābhadra | — | Ghee and sweet rice | Uttareṇī twig |
| Śrāvaṇa | Śūlapāṇi | Kanneragā flowers; gandha (scent) and ghee | A cooked meal | Kanneragā twig |
| Bhādrapada | Sadyojāta | Pogada flowers | Arisa (sweet fried cakes) | — |
| Āśvayuja | Surādhipa | Campaka flowers; a golden vessel of water | Fragrant modakas (sweet dumplings) | Damanaka twig |
| Kārtika | — | Candra flowers and Madana flowers | Milk and vegetables | — |
Through the year Bhagavān Śiva is also worshipped with lotus flowers on each Trayodaśī.
The udyāpana
After the twelve months of the vrata:
- Set up a suvarṇa-pratimā (a gold image) of Anaṅga (Kāma, Manmatha) with Rati on a golden maṇḍala.
- Worship them with gandha and the other upacāras (offerings).
- Perform homa with sesame and rice, offering ten thousand āhutis.
- Keep jāgaraṇa (an all-night vigil) with gīta-vādya (song and music).
- At dawn, worship the devatās again.
- Give to brāhmaṇas a bed (śayyā), a vessel (pātra), an umbrella (chatra), cloth (vastra) and footwear (pādaksha).
- Feed brāhmaṇas and cows with food that pleases them.
The phalaśruti
Those who keep this vrata properly receive:
- Lakshmī-putra-santāna: sons who have the qualities of Lakshmī;
- ārogya (health) and saubhāgya (good fortune);
- akshaya: inexhaustible prosperity in this world;
- svarga (heaven) at death.
Per Agni Purāṇa
Agni Deva says: “Now I shall tell the vratas of the trayodaśī tithi, which give everything.” The first is the Anaṅga Trayodaśī. In the past, Anaṅga (Manmatha) himself kept this vrata.
The months
On the śukla trayodaśī of each month, the observer worships Bhagavān Śiva in a set form and takes a set food or drink:
| Month | Form of Bhagavān Śiva | Food or drink |
|---|---|---|
| Mārgaśīrsha | Hara in the form of Kāmadeva | Honey at night; homa of ghee mixed with milk and akshata (unbroken rice) |
| Pausha | Yogeśvara | Water with a pearl in it |
| Phālguna | Vīrabhadra | Kaṅkola (a fragrant berry) |
| Caitra | Surūpa | Camphor |
| Vaiśākha | Mahārūpa | Jātīphala (nutmeg) |
| Jyeshṭha | Pradyumna | Lavaṅga (clove) |
| Āshāḍha | Umāpati | Water mixed with sesame |
| Śrāvaṇa | Śūlapāṇi | Fragrant water |
| Bhādrapada | Sadyojāta | Aguru (fragrant aloe-wood) |
| Āśvayuja | Śaṅkara, lord of the thirty devas | Water in which gold has been placed |
| Kārttika | Viśveśvara | Salt |
One who keeps the vrata in Pausha gains svarga; one who keeps it in Caitra is blessed with saubhāgya (good fortune).
The completion
When the year is complete, the observer gives a golden Śiva-liṅga covered with mango leaves and cloths, together with a cow, a bed, an umbrella, a kalaśa, sandals and vessels full of rasa (sweet juices).
The Kāma Trayodaśī
In the same chapter Agni Deva gives the Kāma Trayodaśī. On the śukla trayodaśī of Caitra, the observer smears the aśoka tree with sindūra (vermilion) and collyrium and, at its root, remembers Kāmadeva together with Rati and Prīti. One who seeks the fulfilment of his desires worships Kāmadeva in this way for one year.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 191
Sources
- Garuḍa Purāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 117
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 191