Āgneyī Caturdaśī Vrata
Āgneyī Caturdaśī Vrata · āgneyī-caturdaśī-vrata, “the vrata of the fourteenth day dear to Agni”
The Āgneyī Caturdaśī, also called Raudrī Caturdaśī, is the tithi on which Agni Deva regained his place, and the vrata of Trilocana Śrī Sadāśiva kept on it for a year. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches it to Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, with the account of Aṅgiras Muni who did the work of Agni.
Aṅgiras in the place of Agni
Yudhishṭhira asks who did the work of Agni when Agni Deva became invisible, and how Agni regained his own form. Śrī Kṛshṇa tells that Utathya Muni and Aṅgiras Muni once had a great dispute over which of them was greater in vidyā and tapas, and both went to Brahmā. Brahmā told them to bring all the devatās and lokapālas, but Bhagavān Sūrya did not come, saying that darkness would spread over the world.
Aṅgiras said, “Bhagavān Sūrya, go to Brahmaloka. I will stay in your place and give light.” Sūrya went, and Aṅgiras began to blaze with fierce tejas, so that all beings burned in his heat. Brahmā sent Sūrya back at once. Sūrya returned to his place, praised Aṅgiras with a stuti and sent him off.
The devatās praised Aṅgiras and asked him to do all the work of Agni until they found Agni. Aṅgiras began to do so in the form of Agni. When Agni Deva came and saw him, he said: “Muni, leave my place. I will be born to you, from a woman named Śubhā, as your eldest and dear son, and my name then will be Bṛhaspati. You will have many other sons and grandsons also.” Glad at this vara, Aṅgiras left the place of Agni.
Agni Deva regained his place on the caturdaśī tithi. So this tithi is very dear to him and is known as Āgneyī Caturdaśī and Raudrī Caturdaśī. In svarga the devatās, and on earth great kings such as Māndhātā, Manu and Nahusha, have honoured it.
The śrāddha of this tithi
For those killed in battle, those who died from the bite of a snake or the like, and those who took their own life, śrāddha is done on this caturdaśī, so that they reach a good state (sadgati).
The vidhi
- Fast on caturdaśī and do pūjā of Trilocana Śrī Sadāśiva with gandha, flowers, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya and the rest.
- Keep vigil at night.
- Swallow pañcagavya at night and sleep on the ground.
- Eat śyāmāka (a millet) without oil or salt.
- Offer 108 āhutis of black sesame with the name-mantras of Agni.
- Next morning bathe, bathe Bhagavān Śiva with pañcāmṛta, do pūjā with bhakti, do homa as before, and pray to him.
- Do āratī, feed a brāhmaṇa, give dakshiṇā, and eat in silence.
The udyāpana
After keeping the vrata for one year, make a gold image of Bhagavān Trilocana Śaṅkara. Set it on a silver bull, cover it with two white cloths and place it in a copper vessel. Do pūjā with gandha, white flowers, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya and the rest, and give it to a brāhmaṇa.
The phala
One who keeps this vrata for a year obtains long life, gives up life at a tīrtha at the end, and enjoys himself in Śivaloka with the devatās. After a long time there he comes to earth as a wealthy and dhārmika king, with sons and grandsons, happy for a long time, and obtains the desires he wishes for.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 93
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 93, 208