Akhaṇḍa Dvādaśī
Akhaṇḍa Dvādaśī · a-khaṇḍa dvādaśī, “the unbroken twelfth day”
Caitra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Caitra.
The Akhaṇḍa Dvādaśī is a year-long vrata to Bhagavān Janārdana, begun on the śukla dvādaśī (the twelfth day of the bright fortnight) of Mārgaśīrsha. Its purpose is to make whole every fault in one’s other vratas, fasts and acts of dharma. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches it to Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, Chapters 79–81. The vrata is closed three times over the year with a pāraṇā (the breaking of the fast), once in every four months, and it ends with the feeding of twelve brāhmaṇas. By it, the vratas of seven births become fully fruitful.
Dharma-vaikalya: when dharma falls short
Yudhishṭhira asks Śrī Kṛshṇa what comes of it if some shortfall (vaikalya) remains in vratas, fasts, dāna (giving) or dharma. Śrī Kṛshṇa answers that all these come from dharma-vaikalya, shortfall in dharma:
- those who gain a kingdom yet are poor;
- those who gain a fine form yet become one-eyed, blind or lame;
- separation between wife and husband, and durbhagatva (ill fortune);
- those born in a good family who become ill-conducted;
- those who are rich but cannot enjoy or give their wealth, who go without cloth and ornaments and find no happiness.
Hence no fault should be allowed in yajña, vrata or any other act of dharma.
Yudhishṭhira then asks what should be done if a fault does occur in a fast or the like. Śrī Kṛshṇa answers that by the Akhaṇḍa Dvādaśī vrata all faults in dharma are removed.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 79–81
The vidhi
On the Mārgaśīrsha śukla dvādaśī:
- Bathe, do pūjā of Bhagavān Janārdana with bhakti, fast, and remember Nārāyaṇa without pause.
- With senses controlled, bathe in water mixed with pañcagavya.
- Give a brāhmaṇa a vessel filled with barley and vrīhi (paddy).
- Then pray in these words.
सप्तजन्मनि यत्किंचिन्मया खण्डव्रतं कृतम्।
भगवन् त्वत्प्रसादेन तदखण्डमिहास्तु मे॥
यथाखण्डं जगत् सर्वं त्वयैव पुरुषोत्तम ।
तथाखिलान्यखण्डानि व्रतानि मम सन्तु वैsaptajanmani yatkiṃcinmayā khaṇḍavrataṃ kṛtam |
bhagavan tvatprasādena tadakhaṇḍamihāstu me ||
yathākhaṇḍaṃ jagat sarvaṃ tvayaiva purushottama |
tathākhilānyakhaṇḍāni vratāni mama santu vaiBhagavān Purushottama, whatever shortfall there has been in my keeping of vratas in seven births, may all of it be made whole by your grace. Purushottama, as this whole world is made whole by you, so may all my broken vratas be made whole.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 79
The three pāraṇās
In this vrata the pāraṇā is made every four months.
- After the four months from Caitra, make the second pāraṇā and give a brāhmaṇa a vessel of sattu (ground parched grain).
- After the four months from Śrāvaṇa, make the third pāraṇā. Do pūjā of Nārāyaṇa and give ghṛta (ghee) in a vessel of gold, silver, clay or palāśa leaf, according to one’s means.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 79–81
The close of the year
When the year is complete, with senses controlled, feed twelve brāhmaṇas with khīr (rice cooked in milk). Give them cloth and ornaments, and ask forgiveness for faults. The ācārya (teacher) is also honoured by the rule.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 79–81
The phala
For one who keeps the Akhaṇḍa Dvādaśī in this way, the vratas of seven births become fully fruitful. Women and men must certainly perform it to remove the shortfall in their vratas.
The closing index of the Uttara Parva, in Chapter 208, names the Akhaṇḍa Dvādaśī among the dvādaśī vratas.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 79–81, 208
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 79–81, 208