Mārgaśīrsha Paurṇimā Vrata
Mārgaśīrsha Paurṇimā Vrata, simply known as Margashirsha Paurnima Vrata, Sanskrit: मार्गशीर्ष पौर्णिमा व्रत, Telugu: మార్గశిర పౌర్ణమి వ్రతం, Hindi: मार्गशीर्ष पूर्णिमा व्रत.
The Mārgaśīrsha Paurṇimā Vrata is a vrata of one year, kept on each full-moon day (paurṇimā) from Mārgaśīrsha through Kārtika. It is offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu and Lakshmī together, as Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa. It is described in the Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 18.
On each full moon the devotee fasts, does pūjā of Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa with a homa, and offers arghya (water offering) to the moon. The year ends with a grand udyāpana on Kārtika Paurṇimā.
Why it is praised
Sanaka Maharshi praises this vrata as one of the finest of all vratas of Bhagavān Vishṇu. It removes all pāpa (sin), is supremely pure and ends all sorrows. It fulfils all wishes of brāhmaṇas, kshatriyas, vaiśyas, śūdras and women alike. It keeps away bad dreams, gives dharma, removes harmful planets, and is well known in all lokas. Keeping it for one year is equal to having kept all vratas.
The vidhi on each paurṇimā
This is done on each Paurṇimā from Mārgaśīrsha to Āśvayuja.
- Purification in the morning. Rise in the morning and clean the teeth. Bathe according to the rules of one’s āśrama. Wear white clothes. Return home in silence.
- Daily pūjā. Finish the daily worship of the devas. Then, with a saṅkalpa (vow), do pūjā of Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa with devotion.
- The pūjā. Use invocation (āvāhana), seat (āsana), sandalpaste (gandha), flowers and the other offerings. Recite Namo Nārāyaṇāya. Offer song, dance, music, or a reading of the Purāṇas, and hymns of praise.
- Homa. Make a square altar (sthaṇḍila) before Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa. Set up the fire by the rules of the gṛhya-sūtra. Offer a homa with pāyasa (milk-pudding), sesame and ghee, using the Purusha-sūkta. Do it once, twice or three times, as one is able.
- Arghya to the moon. After the pūjā, go outside facing east. Offer arghya to the moon with white flowers and akshatas (rice grains), saying:
“O one born of the ocean of milk, born in the line of Atri, O Rohiṇī-nātha, accept this arghya that I offer.”
Then pray:
“O one with white rays, king of the twice-born, husband of Rohiṇī, brother of Lakshmī, I salute you.”
- The fast. Keep the fast (upavāsa) with this saṅkalpa:
“O Deva, by your command I fast on this paurṇimā until tomorrow. Be my refuge.”
- Jāgaraṇa. Stay awake through the night, listening to the Purāṇas.
- Next day. Finish the daily duties. Do the pūjā of Bhagavān Vishṇu again, richly, as one is able. Feed brāhmaṇas. Then eat in silence with relatives and friends.
The udyāpana on Kārtika Paurṇimā
After the year of vratas is complete, do the udyāpana on Kārtika Paurṇimā.
- Build a beautiful square maṇḍapa (pavilion) decorated with garlands of flowers, flags, umbrellas, cāmaras (fly-whisks), standards, many lamps and bells.
- In the centre draw a sarvatobhadra (a square diagram) in five colours and place a pot of water (kalaśa) on it.
- Cover it with cloth and place on it an image of Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa made of gold, silver or copper. Do pañcāmṛta-abhisheka (bathing with the five sacred foods) and worship with sandalpaste and the other offerings.
- Offer foods to be chewed and foods to be eaten (bhakshya-bhojya) as naivedya. Keep the jāgaraṇa with full devotion.
- Next morning, do the pūjā as before. Give the image to the ācārya with dakshiṇā (a gift). Feed brāhmaṇas generously. Give sesame (tila-dāna) and offer a sesame homa (tila-homa) with the proper mantra.
The phala
Those who finish this Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa vrata for one year will have many pleasures in this life, including sons, grandsons and all enjoyments, and will be freed from all pāpa. Together with ten thousand generations, they will reach the abode of Bhagavān Vishṇu (Vishṇu-bhavana), which is hard to reach even for yogis.
The Purāṇa also declares that keeping the vrata gives the combined phala of all vratas.
Sources
- Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 18