Pratipat
Pratipat · prati-pat, “that which goes first”
Caitra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Caitra.
Grammar: feminine noun, from prati and the root pad: “a beginning”. In Telugu the tithi is Pāḍyami.
Meaning: the first tithi of each paksha.
In the scriptures: the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa has a Pratipat Kalpa, the rites of this tithi.
Its name. The first tithi is called Pratipat because Brahmā declared it best and set it forth before all others, and from this word the other tithis came to be celebrated by their names. This tithi grants desires, is dear to Brahmā and is secret; no one has spoken of it to anyone. On Pāḍyami one drinks milk (Brahma Parva, Chapter 16).
Its phala. Giving brāhmaṇas lamps with jaggery and new bordered white cloth on Pāḍyami gives Brahmapada, and so does adorning oneself that day with new clothes, gandha and flowers. Pāḍyami gives great puṇya, is the day Bali obtained his kingdom, and is dear to Brahmā. Honouring brāhmaṇas and especially oneself on this tithi gives Vaikuṇṭha (Brahma Parva, Chapter 18).
Its devatā. On Pratipat one worships Agni with homa of ghee, and gains all grains and abundant wealth (Brahma Parva, Chapter 102).
Caitra śukla pratipadā. On this day a woman or man bathes at a river, pond or home and does tarpaṇa to devatās and pitṛs (Uttara Parva, Chapter 8).
Related terms: Tithi · Paksha · Brahmā
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 16–18, 102; Uttara Parva, Chapter 8