Govinda Dvādaśī

Govinda Dvādaśī · govinda dvādaśī, “the twelfth day of Govinda”

Govinda Dvādaśī is a vrata kept for one year, beginning on the śukla dvādaśī of Pausha, the twelfth day of its bright fortnight. It is offered to Bhagavān Govinda. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches it to Mahārāja Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, Chapters 77–78, directly after the Samprāpti Dvādaśī, and says that by it every wish is accomplished.

The vratī fasts, worships lotus-eyed Bhagavān Govinda, repeats his name inwardly and serves cows every month. At the year’s end a gold pratimā of Govinda with Bhagavatī Lakshmī is given with a cow and her calf. The vrata gives the fruit of giving a hundred gold-horned cows with a fine bull, and at the end the vratī reaches Goloka. The index of the Parva names it among the Dvādaśī vratas (Chapter 208).

The vidhi

On the Pausha śukla dvādaśī:

  1. Fast, and do pūjā of lotus-eyed Bhagavān Govinda with flowers, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya and so on.
  2. Go on repeating this same name inwardly.
  3. Give dakshiṇā (the gift to the brāhmaṇa) to brāhmaṇas according to one’s means.
  4. Take gomūtra (cow’s urine), gomaya (cow dung), curd or cow’s milk as prāśana (a sacred sip or taste).

On the next day:

  1. Bathe, and do pūjā of Govinda in the same way.
  2. Feed a brāhmaṇa, and then eat.
  3. Feed a cow to her satisfaction.

The vrata is kept thus every month. Every month pūjā is done of cows, and they are satisfied with mouthfuls of fodder. On the pāraṇā day (the day the fast is closed) they are served with special devotion.

The rule. On this day the vratī does not speak with pākhaṇḍins (those who have left the path of the Veda).

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 77–78

At the end of the year

When the year is complete, a gold pratimā of Bhagavān Govinda is made with Bhagavatī Lakshmī. Pūjā of it is done with flowers, dhūpa, dīpa, garlands, naivedya and so on. It is given to brāhmaṇas with a cow and her calf.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 77–78

The phala

This vrata gives the same fruit as the gift of a hundred gold-horned cows together with a fine bull. One who performs it well enjoys all happiness and at the end reaches Goloka.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 77–78

Sources

  • Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 77–78, 208