Vāra Vratas (Agni Purāṇa)

Vāra Vrata, “the vows of the weekdays”

The Agni Purāṇa, in its 195th chapter, teaches seven vāra vratas: vratas tied to the seven days of the week (vāra). Each weekday has its own nakshatra and its own deity. Each vrata is a nakta-vrata, which means the observer eats only at night, after sunset, on the vrata day. The vrata is kept on seven consecutive occurrences of that weekday. Each one frees the observer from the affliction of the planet of that day and gives the blessing of its deva.

The seven weekday vratas

Agni tells Vasishṭha the seven vāra vratas, each of which gives bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and mukti (moksha). The nakshatra named for each weekday gives that day’s vrata its full strength. Seven consecutive weekday observances are the core rule.

Ravivāra (Sunday): Sūrya Vrata

Deity: Sūrya (the Sun).

Nakshatra: Hasta or Punarvasu.

Vidhi: On a Sunday when the nakshatra Hasta or Punarvasu is present, bathe with pure sarvaushadhi (all-herb) water. Perform the Raudra ceremony, the worship of the Sun linked with Rudra. Keep the nakta-vrata (one meal, in the evening) on seven consecutive Sundays.

If the day of Sūrya-saṃkrānti (the Sun’s entry into a new sign) falls on a Sunday, it is called Āditya-hṛdayam, the most sacred of all Sundays. Keeping this nakta-vrata on such a day, or on a Sunday with Hasta nakshatra, for a full year gives all desires.

Phala: One who keeps this vrata is free from all diseases (rogapīḍā) for seven births.

Somavāra (Monday): Candra Vrata

Deity: Soma (the Moon, Candra).

Nakshatra: Citrā (seven Mondays with Citrā).

Vidhi: Begin on a Monday when Citrā nakshatra is present. Keep the nakta-vrata on seven consecutive Mondays.

Phala: The observer becomes sukhavān (full of happiness).

Maṃgalavāra (Tuesday): Maṃgala Vrata

Deity: Maṃgala (Mars).

Nakshatra: Svāti.

Vidhi: Begin on a Tuesday when Svāti nakshatra is present. Keep the nakta-vrata on seven consecutive Tuesdays.

Phala: All hardships (kashṭa) are removed. The observer is freed from all difficulties.

Budhavāra (Wednesday): Budha Vrata

Deity: Budha (Mercury).

Nakshatra: Viśākhā.

Vidhi: Begin on a Wednesday when Viśākhā nakshatra is present. Keep the nakta-vrata on seven consecutive Wednesdays.

Phala: Freedom from Budha-graha-pīḍā, the affliction caused by the planet Mercury.

Guruvāra (Thursday): Bṛhaspati Vrata

Deity: Bṛhaspati (Jupiter).

Nakshatra: Anurādhā.

Vidhi: Begin on a Thursday when Anurādhā nakshatra is present. Keep the nakta-vrata on seven consecutive Thursdays.

Phala: Freedom from Bṛhaspati-graha-pīḍā, the affliction caused by the planet Jupiter.

Śukravāra (Friday): Śukra Vrata

Deity: Śukra (Venus).

Nakshatra: Jyeshṭhā.

Vidhi: Begin on a Friday when Jyeshṭhā nakshatra is present. Keep the nakta-vrata on seven consecutive Fridays.

Phala: Freedom from Śukra-graha-pīḍā, the affliction caused by the planet Venus.

Śanivāra (Saturday): Śani Vrata

Deity: Śani (Saturn).

Nakshatra: Mūla.

Vidhi: Begin on a Saturday when Mūla nakshatra is present. Keep the nakta-vrata on seven consecutive Saturdays.

Phala: Freedom from Śani-graha-pīḍā, the affliction caused by the planet Saturn.

Other teachings on the weekdays

• Wednesday with Śravaṇa. In the Śravaṇa Dvādaśī Vrata, kept in the bright fortnight of Bhādrapada, Agni teaches that gifts and other acts done on a dvādaśī (12th day) that falls on a Wednesday and is joined with the Śravaṇa nakshatra give great fruit (Chapter 189).
• Saturday gifts for health. In the Āyurveda that Dhanvantari taught to Suśruta, one who would remove diseases of the body and diseases that come from outside (āgantuka) worships a brāhmaṇa on a Saturday and gives him ghee, guḍa (jaggery), salt and gold. On a Saturday one should also give oil; in the month of Āśvayuja one gives gorasa, the products of the cow (Chapter 280).

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 189, 280

The seven vratas in one table

Sources

• Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 189, 195, 280