Māsa-Upavāsa Vrata (Nārada Purāṇa, Chapter 22)

Māsa-Upavāsa Vrata, simply known as Masa Upavasa Vrata, Sanskrit: मास-उपवास व्रत, Telugu: మాస ఉపవాస వ్రతం, Hindi: मास उपवास व्रत.

The Māsa-upavāsa is a complete fast for one whole month, taught in the Nārada Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 22. It is kept in one of four months: Āshāḍha, Śrāvaṇa, Bhādrapada or Āśvayuja, beginning in the bright fortnight (śukla paksha). The devotee takes no food for the whole month and lives in the Hari-mandira (the temple of Bhagavān Vishṇu). An unbroken lamp burns before the mūrti, pañcāmṛta abhisheka is done every day, and complete brahmacarya is kept. The vrata cleans the devotee of all pāpa (sin) and fulfils all desires.

When it is kept

Choose one of the four months: Āshāḍha, Śrāvaṇa, Bhādrapada or Āśvayuja. Begin in śukla paksha. The vrata means living in the Hari-mandira for the whole month.

The vidhi

  1. Beginning. On the first day of śukla paksha, keep indriya-jaya (mastery of the senses). Take pañcagavya-prāśana (the five products of the cow). Sleep in the presence of Śrī Mahāvishṇu.
  2. Daily practice through the month. – Rise at prātaḥkāla (early morning), finish the daily duties (nitya-karma), give up anger (krodha) and keep the senses in control. – Worship Śrī Mahāvishṇu with faith (śraddhā), together with paṇḍitas. Say the svasti-vācana with the proper saṃkalpa. – The saṃkalpa is: “O Keśava! From this day for one month I shall stay without food (nirāhāra) by your command, and I shall break the fast (pāraṇā) at the end of the month. O one whose form is tapas, O giver of the fruit of tapas! Remove all obstacles (vighna) and grant my wish (abhīshṭa).” – Live in the Hari-mandira. Keep an unbroken lamp (akhaṇḍa-dīpa) before the mūrti through the whole month. – Every day, do the pañcāmṛta abhisheka of Śrī Mahāvishṇu.
  3. Udyāpana at the end of the month. Feed brāhmaṇas generously (brāhmaṇa-bhojana). Break the fast (pāraṇā) properly at the auspicious time.

The phala

The month-long Māsa-upavāsa destroys all the pāpa gathered and makes the fulfilment of all desires possible. Those who cannot keep it fully may keep the Pañcarātra Vrata as an easier alternative.

Sources

  • Nārada Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 22