Āditya-vāra Nakta Vrata

Āditya-vāra Nakta Vrata, simply known as Adityavara Nakta Vrata, Sanskrit: आदित्य-वार नक्त व्रत, Telugu: ఆదిత్యవార నక్త వ్రతం, Hindi: आदित्यवार नक्त व्रत.

The Āditya-vāra Nakta Vrata is kept on a Sunday (Āditya-vāra) that falls on Hasta nakshatra. This is a day thought most auspicious for the worship of Sūrya. A lotus of twelve petals is drawn in red sandal, the names of Sūrya are written on it, arghya is offered, and the night meal (nakta) is eaten without oil. After a year, a gold padma, a gold man with two arms and a kapilā cow are given. It is told in the Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 96.

Why it was taught

Nārada asked Nandikeśvara for a vrata that gives ārogya (health), endless phala and śānti (peace) to human beings. Nandikeśvara answered that Parabrahma-tattva, the eternal cosmic consciousness, shines in the world in three forms: Sūrya, Candra and Agni. Those who worship it in the form of Āditya by the vrata laid down always live in well-being.

When it is kept

Keep the vrata on a Sunday (Āditya-vāra) that falls on Hasta nakshatra. On the day before, a Saturday, eat only one meal (eka-bhukta) and be free of envy. On the Sunday, feed brāhmaṇas and then eat oneself.

The setting for the pūjā

Draw a dvādaśa-dala padma (a lotus of twelve petals) on the floor with red sandal. Write these names of Sūrya on it.

In the eight petals (the outer ring):

  • East: Sūryāya namaḥ
  • Southeast: Divākarāya namaḥ
  • South: Vivasvate namaḥ
  • Southwest: Bhagāya namaḥ
  • West: Varuṇāya namaḥ
  • Northwest: Māprendrāya namaḥ
  • North: Ādityāya namaḥ
  • Northeast: Śāntāya namaḥ

In the karṇikā (the inner circle, with the four directions and the centre):

  • East: Ravi-turagebhyo namaḥ (salutation to the horses of Ravi)
  • South: Yamāya namaḥ
  • West: Mārtāṇḍāya namaḥ
  • North: Ravaye namaḥ
  • Centre: Bhāskarāya namaḥ

The arghya

Offer arghya to Ravi on the padma. Use sesame (nūvulu) mixed with red sandal, in water infused with red flowers.

The arghya mantra is given here in summary. It says: O Divākara, you are kālātman (the self of time), sarvabhūtātman (the self of all beings), vedātman (the self of the Veda) and sarvatomukha (facing every side). You have the form of Agni and Indra. Salutations to you in the eastern direction. The mantra gives salutations with the Ṛg words agnīm īḷe, with the Yajur words ishe tvorṇetvā, and with agna āyāhi. It ends: O Bhāskara, Varada, Jyotishāṃ-pati (master of lights), accept this arghya.

After the arghya, give Ravi his udvāsana (sending off). The night meal is eaten without oil.

The year

The vrata is kept through the year, each time a Sunday falls on Hasta nakshatra. Other vratas and dānas are done during the year as well.

The dāna at the end

When the year is complete, look for a brāhmaṇa without blemish, with his senses under control, a householder (kuṭumbī) and modest. Honour him with vastra (cloth) of red or reddish-yellow colour, with garlands (mālya) and incense (dhūpa). Give him:

  • a gold padma;
  • a gold dvibhuja purusha (a figure of a man with two arms);
  • a kapilā cow with gold horns, silver hooves, a bronze milking vessel and a calf, decked with garlands.

The mantra for the gift says, in meaning: O destroyer of pāpa, O self of all (viśvātman), O rider of seven horses (saptāśva), you are the treasury of the Ṛg, Yajur and Sāma and of all lights. You are the Maker (vidhātā). You are the boat across saṃsāra. You are the purifier of the world (jagat-pavitra). Salutations to Ravi.

The phala

The one who keeps this Āditya-vāra Nakta Vrata for a year:

  • is freed from all pāpa;
  • reaches Sūrya-pada (the station of Sūrya), honoured by all devatās;
  • when his karma is used up, is born again as a ruler of the earth, free from disease and fear, a dharma-mūrti (an image of dharma) with a life of no limit;
  • climbs the seven ūrdhva-lokas (the worlds above) one after another and lives there in bliss.

Women who keep this vrata with bhakti for their husbands and devotion to their gurus and devas also reach an excellent loka where they are worshipped like devatās. This is certain.

To hear or read this vrata-vidhi is itself worth hundreds of crores of years in Indra-bhavana, with worship like a deva’s.

Sources

  • Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 96