Phala-tyāga Vrata

Phala-tyāga Vrata, simply known as Phala Tyaga Vrata, Sanskrit: फल-त्याग व्रत, Telugu: ఫల త్యాగ వ్రతం, Hindi: फल त्याग व्रत.

The Phala-tyāga Vrata is the vrata of giving up all fruits for one full year. Nandikeśvara taught it to Nārada among the Māheśvara dharmas, in the Matsya Mahā Purāṇa (Chapter 95). It begins on a Śukla Tṛtīyā, Ashṭamī, Dvādaśī or Caturdaśī. At its end the performer gives forty-eight pratimās (images) of fruits, made in gold, silver and copper, with a gold Yama and a gold Rudra, to a brāhmaṇa couple.

The setting

Nandikeśvara went on telling Nārada the Māheśvara dharmas. He spoke of the Sarvaphala-tyāga Vrata. It gives akshaya phala, fruit that never runs out, both in this world and the next. It gives all desired fruits (sarva-kāma-phala-prada) and is auspicious in itself. The text praises it as having no equal for giving fruit that never runs out in both worlds.

How it begins

The yajamāna (the one who keeps the vrata) begins on a Śukla Tṛtīyā, Ashṭamī, Dvādaśī or Caturdaśī. It may be in Mārgaśīrsha or in any other auspicious month. He has brāhmaṇas perform svastivācana. He feeds the brāhmaṇas with pāyasa and gives them dakshiṇā. From that day he takes up the vrata.

The year of abstinence

For one full year, except when medicine is needed, the yajamāna gives up all fruits (phala). This includes vegetables (kūragāyalu), tubers and roots.

Only eighteen kinds of dhānya (grain) may be eaten. This rule holds equally for Śaiva and Vaishṇava devotees, for yogis and for women.

The forty-eight fruit pratimās

At the end of the year, forty-eight pratimās of fruits are made and given away.

Sixteen in gold

  1. Boodida-gummudi (white pumpkin)
  2. māḍī-phala
  3. panalangi-vaṅgakāya (brinjal)
  4. panasa (jackfruit)
  5. māmidi (mango)
  6. āmatapha
  7. velagapandu (bael)
  8. kaḷingamu (a fruit dear to Vishṇu)
  9. kharbuza-dosa (musk melon or cucumber fruit)
  10. mārēḍupandu
  11. rāvikāya
  12. rēgupandu (ber)
  13. nimmapandu (lime)
  14. arati (banana)
  15. gummuḍu-dumpa (ash gourd tuber)
  16. dānimma (pomegranate)

Sixteen in silver

  1. Mullangi (radish)
  2. usiri
  3. nērēḍu (jamun)
  4. cinta (tamarind)
  5. kalivipandu
  6. takolapha
  7. ēlakaḷāya (cardamom fruit)
  8. nimmapandu
  9. veduru molaka (bamboo shoot)
  10. kōḍinekāya
  11. jammi kāya
  12. mēdi kāya (udumbara)
  13. ṭenka (coconut)
  14. drāksha (grape)
  15. cinna panalangi-vaṅgakāya
  16. vākuḍukāya

Sixteen in copper

  1. Tāṭipandu (palm fruit)
  2. avisikāya
  3. pogaḍapandu
  4. kapila-drāksha
  5. kanda-dumpa
  6. cilagaḍa-dumpa (sweet potato)
  7. mogalipūvu-kāya
  8. cidbhaṭa (a fruit variety)
  9. mañjishṭhā-kāya
  10. koṇḍa-burugukāya
  11. gandhapu-kāya
  12. bobbarakāya
  13. ippa kāya (mahua fruit)
  14. marrikāya (banyan fruit)
  15. gārakāya
  16. poṭlakāya (pointed gourd)

The gold Yama and Rudra, and the vessels

A gold vṛshabha (bull) of Rudra is made, and a gold pratimā of Yamadharmarāja. Two water vessels (udaka-pātras) are made in copper.

The dāna

On an auspicious day the following are given to a qualified brāhmaṇa couple:

  • all forty-eight fruit pratimās;
  • the Yama and Rudra pratimās;
  • the two copper water vessels;
  • a dhenu pratimā (a cow image);
  • if it can be done, a full bed with all its fittings.

The brāhmaṇa must be śānta (peaceful), a kuṭumbī (householder), sapratnīka (with his wife) and well versed in dharma.

The dāna mantra, in summary, says:

  • “All devatās dwell in all fruits. Through this greatness of the sarvaphala-tyāga vrata, may my bhakti for Bhagavān Śiva be firmly set.”
  • “Bhagavān Śiva and Dharmadeva always give endless phala. Through their pratimās, may endless fruits come to me.”
  • “I see no difference between Bhagavān Śiva, Bhagavān Vishṇu and Ravi. May Śaṅkara, the Self of all, always be śaṅkara (auspicious) for me.”

After the dāna, the brāhmaṇa couple is fed richly. The yajamāna himself then eats without any fruit.

The phala

The number of atoms (paramāṇus) in the gold, silver and copper pratimās decides how long the yajamāna lives in Rudraloka. He lives there for that many thousands of yugas and receives divine worship.

The vrata also gives these results:

  • It cleans the performer of all pāpa (sin) in this life and keeps him always prosperous.
  • Through hundreds and thousands of births, it keeps away putra-viyoga-duḥkha, the grief of being parted from sons.
  • In the other world it gives svarga-sukhas (the joys of svarga) equal to those of Indra and the other devas.
  • Even hearing the description of this vrata frees a person from pāpa and gives first the place of Vishṇu (Vishṇu-sthāna) and then the place of Śiva (Śiva-sthāna).

Sources

  • Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 95