Aśūnyaśayana Vrata (Matsya Purāṇa)
Aśūnyaśayana Vrata, simply known as Ashunyashayana Vrata, Sanskrit: अशून्यशयन व्रत, Telugu: అశూన్యశయన వ్రతం, Hindi: अशून्यशयन व्रत.
The Aśūnyaśayana Vrata is kept on Śrāvaṇa Śukla Dvitīyā, the second tithi of the bright half of Śrāvaṇa. On this day Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa lives always in the Kshīrasāgara (the ocean of milk) together with Lakshmī. It is offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu. The Matsya Purāṇa gives it in Chapter 71.
The name aśūnyaśayana means “never-empty bed”. It points to the unbroken company of Bhagavān Vishṇu and Lakshmī. It is also a vara for the devotee: that his or her own married life may stay unbroken.
Context
Brahmā asked Parameśvara for a way to keep men and women free from separation, disease, grief and fear. Parameśvara answered that Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, who lives always in the Kshīrasāgara with Lakshmī, is worshipped on Śrāvaṇa Śukla Dvitīyā, the Aśūnyaśayana Dvitīyā. Whoever worships him on this day by the procedure given in the kalpa has all wishes fulfilled.
The pūjā
Govinda is worshipped on Śrāvaṇa Śukla Dvitīyā by the kalpa-vidhi. Music and instruments (gīta and vādya) are played during the pūjā. Those who have no means may just ring a bell, because the bell holds all instruments in one.
The prayer to Bhagavān Vishṇu
The meaning of the prayer is:
“Bearer of the Śrīvatsa! Śrīkānta! Śrīvāsa! Avyaya! Śrīpati (master of Śrī)! Giver of dharma, artha and kāma! May our fire rites, our devatās, our pitṛ-devatās and our ancestors suffer no decline! O Madhusūdana! As you are always united with your consort, may I also be always united with my spouse! May my bed be never empty (aśūnya), as yours is always never empty!”
The fast
The devotee fasts through the day. At night, after the first watch, he or she takes a simple meal without oil, salt or spice.
The dāna on the next morning
After the bath, choose a brāhmaṇa who has every good quality. He is a householder (kuṭumbī), learned in the Veda (vedapaṇḍita), a śrotriya, one who has done all the yajñas, with no lack (lopa) and no bodily defect. To him and to his wife give:
- A gold pratimā of Lakshmī and Nārāyaṇa
- Lamps (dīpa)
- Vessels of food (anna-pātra)
- A bed with a pillow, a mattress and a back pillow
- Footwear, an umbrella, cāmaras (whisks) and āsanas (seats)
- White sandal paste and flower garlands
- All other upacāras that are wished for
The brāhmaṇa’s wife is seated on the bed and decorated, with vessels of bhakshya and bhojya foods. The brāhmaṇa husband takes the gold Lakshmī and Nārāyaṇa pratimā in his hands.
The phala
Those who keep this vrata without stinginess, with Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa as their only refuge, stay united with their spouse as long as the moon, the stars and the sun last. They have no widowhood, no poverty and no loss of wealth. They live happily in Vishṇuloka for seven thousand seven hundred kalpas.
Sources
- Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 71