Pratipat Vratas (Nārada Purāṇa)

Pratipat Vrata, simply known as Pratipat Vratas, Sanskrit: प्रतिपत् व्रत, Telugu: పాడ్యమి వ్రతాలు, Hindi: प्रतिपदा व्रत.

Pratipat, also written Pratipad, is the first lunar tithi of each fortnight. In the Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Sanātana Maharshi teaches Nārada the vratas to be kept on this tithi. The teaching is found in the Pūrvārdha, Chapter 110. These vratas are kept for sarvakāma-siddhi (the fulfilment of all desires) and for brahmaloka. The most important Pratipat is Caitra Śukla Pratipat, the day on which Brahmā created the jagat (world) at sunrise.

The teaching and its setting

This teaching belongs to the system of vratas for each tithi in each of the twelve lunar months. In it Sanātana Maharshi tells Nārada which vratas are kept on every tithi, from Pratipat through Pūrṇimā and Amāvāsyā. These vratas are called sarva-siddhi-prada, which means that they give all accomplishments.

Nārada Maharshi had heard from Sanātana the whole account of the eighteen Purāṇas, as Brahmā had given it. He then asked: “In which month, on which tithi, and in which manner should upāsanā (devotion) be done? Please teach me the whole pūjā-vidhi (the way of pūjā).” Sanātana then teaches tithi by tithi, beginning with Pratipat.

Caitra Śukla Pratipat: Saṃvatsarādi

Caitra Śukla Pratipat is the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Caitra. At sunrise (sūryodaya) on this day Brahmā created the jagat. For this reason the day is called Saṃvatsarādi, the beginning of the new year (saṃvatsara).

It is an especially good day to begin new works, pūjās and vratas.

Sources

• Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 110