Phala Dvitīyā

Phala Dvitīyā · phala dvitīyā, “the second day of fruits”

The Phala Dvitīyā, also called the Aśūnyaśayana Vrata and the Kṛshṇa Dvitīyā, is the vrata of the second tithi on which Bhagavān Vishṇu lies down with Śrī Lakshmī. It is kept on Śrāvaṇa kṛshṇa dvitīyā, with pūjā to Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa and an offering of the sweetest fruits of the ṛtu, and fruits are given to a brāhmaṇa on the next day. Sumantu Muni teaches it to King Śatānīka in the Dvitīyā Kalpa of the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa.

Its name Aśūnyaśayana means “the bed that is never empty”. As Bhagavān Vishṇu never lies down without Lakshmī, so the keeper is not parted from wife or husband. A woman who keeps it does not suffer widowhood, a man is not separated from his wife, and the household stands unbroken for three births.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 19–20

The setting

At the close of the Dvitīyā vratas of Chapter 19, Sumantu Muni names one more: the Phala Dvitīyā, which begins on the day Bhagavān Vishṇu lies down. It gives great puṇya, destroys pāpa and is dear to Bhagavān Vishṇu. A man who fasts on it with śraddhā and bhakti gains aiśvarya and lives happily with his wife.

Then Śatānīka asks: “Brāhmaṇottama, tell me of that Dvitīyā tithi called Phala, by fasting on which a man does not suffer separation from his wife”, by which a man stays long with his wife and a woman with her husband, and a woman never suffers widowhood.

Sumantu Muni answers that the day on which Bhagavān Vishṇu, Jagatpati, lies down with his wife Śrī Lakshmī is to be known as the Aśūnyaśayana Dvitīyā. A woman who keeps the upavāsa rule on that Dvitīyā does not suffer widowhood, and a man who keeps it never suffers separation from his wife.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 19–20

The vidhi

  1. On Śrāvaṇa kṛshṇa dvitīyā, bathe, do pūjā with bhakti to Bhagavān Vishṇu, Jagatpati, marked with the Śrīvatsa, and bow to him.
  2. Offer the prayer given below.
  3. Having so praised, do pūjā to Lakshmī-Nārāyaṇa.
  4. At pradosha, offer the various fruits dear to Śrī Hari.
  5. At night, bow to the deva in the temple and, restrained in speech, eat those fruits.
  6. On the second day, give dakshiṇā to a brāhmaṇa according to means.

The prayer

The keeper prays to Bhagavān Vishṇu as Śrīvatsadhārī (bearer of the Śrīvatsa), Śrīkānta (beloved of Śrī), Śrīvatsa, Śrīpati (husband of Śrī) and Avyaya (the undecaying):

  • May my gṛhastha āśrama, which gives dharma, artha and kāma, not be ruined.
  • May our cows be safe. May our people be safe.
  • May the women born with me not come to harm from discord in their married life.
  • As you are ever united with Lakshmī, so may I be ever unforsaken by the wealth of money and grain.
  • May my wife not part from me.
  • He Varadāyaka (giver of varas)! As you never lie down without Lakshmī, so may my bed too never be without a wife.

The fruits

Śatānīka asks which fruits are dear to Bhagavān Vishṇu, and what should be given to the brāhmaṇa on the second day. Sumantu Muni says:

  • Of whichever fruits are available in that ṛtu, the sweetest should be offered in plenty, according to means.
  • Fruits unripe, tasteless, overripe or inferior should not be offered.
  • Those badly spoiled, and those spoken of in the feminine gender, are left out.
  • Clean dates with their stalks, mādīphalas and others like them should be offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu at the time of his lying down.
  • The man who offers sweet fruits becomes dear to his wife, and a woman who offers them wins her husband’s love.

The gift on the second day

Fruits such as were given to Bhagavān Vishṇu are given to the brāhmaṇa too, according to one’s means, with coconuts and gold, and with bhakti. New garments, grain and fruits of many kinds should also be given. A gift of gold together with grain is said to be special. One should give to brāhmaṇas only sweet, excellent, clean fruits.

The phala

  • He who keeps this vrata well for four months has no break in his household for three births.
  • He who keeps the Aśūnyaśayana Vrata, by which dharma, artha and kāma can be gained, has unbroken aiśvarya.
  • The woman who keeps it by rule lives at ease, without the sorrow of separation from kin, and lives happily for three births without widowhood, without being slighted or abandoned by her husband.
  • The man who keeps the upavāsa vrata on this tithi gains abundance of all things.

This good fruit comes only by giving excellent fruits such as dates and mādīphalas, unspoiled, not unripe, not rotten.

Why Bhagavān Vishṇu on the tithi of the Aśvins

Śatānīka asks how Bhagavān Vishṇu with Lakshmī Devī is given pūjā on this tithi, which is excellent for the Aśvinī Kumāras. Sumantu Muni answers that this is indeed the tithi of the Aśvins, but that for the delight of Bhagavān Vishṇu, of boundless tejas, the Aśvinī Kumāras gave him the Aśūnyaśayana. Those of true vrata do pūjā to him on that day, and it is held that on that day Lakshmī was given to Bhagavān Vishṇu.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 20

Sources

  • Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 19–20