Ananta Tṛtīyā Vrata

Ananta Tṛtīyā Vrata, simply known as Ananta Tritiya Vrata, Sanskrit: अनन्त तृतीया व्रत, Telugu: అనంత తృతీయ వ్రతం, Hindi: अनंत तृतीया व्रत.

The Ananta Tṛtīyā Vrata is a vrata (a vow with fasting and worship) kept for twelve months on the Śukla Tṛtīyā, the third tithi of the bright fortnight, beginning with Bhādrapada. Devī Gaurī is worshipped on it by sixteen of her names, each given to one limb of her. Bhagavān Śiva taught it to Pārvatī on Kailāsa. The Matsya Purāṇa gives it in Chapter 62.

The vrata is open to all: men, women, maidens, widows and pregnant women. The flower, the food of the fast and the mantra change each month. Its phala (fruit) is ananta, unlimited: a stay in Śivaloka for kalpas beyond counting.

How it was taught

Manu asked Bhagavān Matsya (Matsya Nārāyaṇa) for a vrata that gives saubhāgya (good fortune), ārogya (health), and both bhukti and mukti (enjoyment and moksha). Bhagavān Matsya then told how Bhagavān Śiva had taught this vrata to Umā at Kailāsa. Bhagavān Śiva called it ananta-phala-prada, the giver of unlimited puṇya, and said it suits every kind of devotee. The account is in the Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 62.

The vidhi

On the Śukla Tṛtīyā of Bhādrapada, and on the same tithi of each month after it, the one who keeps the vrata:

• bathes with śvetāvāla (white sesame), tila oil and tila-piṇḍī;
• puts on a tilaka of gorocanā, gomūtra, black-cow dung, curd and candana, which is always dear to Lalitā and gives saubhāgya;
• dresses in silk: married women in red, widows in a colour other than red, and maidens in white;
• worships Devī Gaurī one after another with pañcagavya, pure cow’s milk, honey and rose-water.

The sixteen names and the limbs

The pūjā uses sixteen names of Devī Gaurī. Each name is given to one of her limbs.

After the pūjā, brāhmaṇa couples are honoured in the maṇḍapa, the married women first. They are given a red cloth, red flowers and red gandha, and kuṅkuma is put on their heads. The guru who gave the vrata-dīkshā (initiation into the vrata) is honoured too.

The monthly schedule

The flower for the pūjā, the food of the fast and the dāna-mantra change with the month.

The dāna at the end

At the end of twelve months a bed with all its things (pillows, cāndanī, cāmara and the rest) and a gold kamala (lotus) are given to brāhmaṇa couples. Each month, 24, 12, 8 or 6 brāhmaṇa couples are honoured, as one is able. One must not be miserly. The worship of the guru comes first of all.

Who may keep it

Men, women, pregnant women, maidens and widows may keep this vrata. Even those who are unwell may keep it. It may be done at night, in the pradosha kāla (the time just after sunset). If aśuci (impurity, for example after childbirth) comes, the one keeping the vrata starts again after śuddhi (purification). A gift as large as one is able to give is enough. Miserliness leads to adhaḥ-patana (a fall).

The phala

Those who finish this vrata live in Śivaloka for kalpa-koṭi-śatam, kalpas beyond counting. Even a poor person who keeps the vrata for only three years, on the Śukla Tṛtīyā days that come to them and with whatever flowers and offerings they can get, receives the full phala. Maidens and widows who keep it receive the grace of Devī Gaurī and the full fruits. Those who read or hear this account reach the highest jñāna, reach Śivaloka, and are worshipped there by the kinnaras and other deva-gaṇas.

Sources

• Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62