Vāra and Nakshatra Vratas in the Garuḍa Purāṇa

A vrata is a sacred vow, usually kept with fasting and pūjā. Some vratas follow the vāra (day of the week), some follow the nakshatra (the lunar mansion, one of the twenty-seven star groups the Moon passes through), and some follow the tithi (day of the lunar calendar).

The Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa gives a series of vratas for the days of the week, for the nakshatras, and for the remaining tithis: Trayodaśī (thirteenth day), Caturdaśī (fourteenth day), Pūrṇimā (full moon) and Amāvāsyā (new moon). It also gives the standard table of the presiding devatās of each of the fifteen tithis, and describes the Dhāmavrata, the Vāravrata, the Māsa-nakshatra vrata and a combined yearly cycle of tithi pūjā.

Trayodaśī Vrata: Madana-trayodaśī

The Trayodaśī of the bright fortnight of Caitra is called Kāmadeva-trayodaśī or Madana-trayodaśī. On this day Manmatha (Kāmadeva, the deva of love) is honoured together with his śaktis (consorts) Rati and Prīti. His image is decorated with white lotuses and other flowers and with ornaments of gems (maṇi-vibhūshaṇa). He is meditated on as the one who drives away sorrow. This vrata grants sukha (happiness) and santosha (contentment).

Caturdaśī Vrata: Śivāshṭamī-caturdaśī

Every month has two Caturdaśīs (one in each fortnight) and two Ashṭamīs (eighth days). Fasting on all four of these days each month and offering pūjā to Parameśvara Śiva is a mukti-pradāyaka practice, one that grants liberation. This full monthly practice is called the Śivāshṭamī-caturdaśī vrata.

Dhāmavrata

The Dhāmavrata is kept in the month of Kārttika. The devotee fasts for three nights and at the end gives a bhavana (house) to a worthy person. The fruit of this vrata is reaching Sūrya-loka, the world of the Sun.

Vāravrata: Weekly Pūjā to Sūrya

In the Vāravrata, the devotee honours Sūrya every day for seven days. Each day the devotee makes a saṃkalpa (a formal statement of intention) that joins the name of the deity with the name of that weekday (vāra). All through the seven days the nakta-vrata is kept, eating only at night after the stars appear. Completing all seven days brings sarva-phala-prāpti, the gaining of every fruit.

Māsa-nakshatra Vrata: A Seven-Year Cycle

The lunar months are named after the nakshatra that falls on the Pūrṇimā (full moon) of that month. When the month’s own nakshatra falls on its Pūrṇimā, that is the ideal day to begin this vrata. The most auspicious start is when the Kṛttikā nakshatra falls on the Pūrṇimā of the month of Kārttika.

On that day Bhagavān Keśava (Vishṇu) is honoured as fully as one is able. Then, through the year:

• Months 1–4 (Kārttika, Mārgaśīrsha, Pushya and Māgha): offerings of havishyānna (pure food) and fire offerings of ghee (ghṛta-havana); kṛśarānna, a dish of rice cooked with sesame, rather like upma, is offered as naivedya (food offering)
• Months 5–8 (Āshāḍha and the three months after it): pāyasa (sweet rice pudding) is offered as naivedya, and brāhmaṇas are fed a meal of pāyasa
• Months 9–12: pañcagavya (the five products of the cow) is taken, baths are taken daily, and the regular food offerings continue

At the end of twelve months the devotee honours Bhagavān Keśava in a special form and prays:

Namo namas te’cyuta saṃkshayo’stu | pāpasya vṛddhiṃ samupaitu puṇyam | aiśvarya-vittādi sadā kshayaṃ me | tathāstu me santati rakshayaiva || yathācyuta tvaṃ parataḥ parasmāt | sa brahma-bhūtaḥ parataḥ parasmāt | tathācyutaṃ me kuru vāṃchitaṃ sadā | mayā kṛtaṃ pāpa-harā prameya || Acyutānanta Govinda prasīda yad abhīpsitam | tad akshayam ameyātman kurushva purushottama ||

This whole cycle is kept for seven years. Its fruits are āyus (long life), Lakshmī (prosperity) and sadgati (a good destination after death).

A Combined Yearly Cycle of Tithi Pūjā

For those who wish to honour all four main devatās, this yearly cycle is given. For one full year, on these tithis, the devotee fasts with a pure heart and offers pūjā:

• Ekādaśī (eleventh day): Vishṇu
• Ashṭamī (eighth day): Durgā
• Caturdaśī (fourteenth day): Śiva
• Saptamī (seventh day): Sūrya

The vrata may be kept as ekabhukta (one meal a day), nakta (eating only at night), ayācita (eating only what comes unasked) or a full upavāsa (fast). Honouring these devatās with śāka (vegetables and greens) grants both bhoga (enjoyment) and moksha (liberation). All pure wishes are fulfilled, and the devotee reaches deva-loka, the world of the devas, after death.

The Presiding Devatās of the Fifteen Tithis

This table gives the devatā to be honoured on each tithi of the lunar fortnight:

Sources

• Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 137