Pūrṇimā and Amāvāsyā Vratas (Nārada Purāṇa)

Pūrṇimā Amāvāsyā Vrata, simply known as Purnima and Amavasya Vratas, Sanskrit: पूर्णिमा अमावास्या व्रत, Telugu: పౌర్ణమి మరియు అమావాస్య వ్రతాలు, Hindi: पूर्णिमा और अमावस्या व्रत.

Pūrṇimā is the full-moon day and Amāvāsyā is the new-moon day, the last tithi of each month. Here are the vratas of both days through the twelve months, as Sanātana Maharshi taught them in the Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, chapter 124. The Pūrṇimā vratas are offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu, Bhagavān Śiva, Candra, Dharmarāja and Devī in their different monthly forms. The Amāvāsyā vratas are mainly for the pitṛs (the ancestors): pitṛ pūjā, śrāddha and tarpana.

Some words used below: upavāsa is a fast, eka-bhukta is one meal a day, dāna is a gift, dakshiṇā is the fee given to a brāhmaṇa, upacāra is an item of offering in pūjā, sumaṅgalī is a married woman whose husband is alive, and phala is the fruit of a rite.

Pūrṇimā vratas month by month

Caitra Pūrṇimā

This Pūrṇimā is known as Manvādi. Give a pot with water and food (sānnodaka-kumbha) for the pleasure (prīti) of Candra.

Vaiśākha Pūrṇimā

Dāna is especially praised (praśasta) on this day. Whatever is given to a brāhmaṇa gives its full result.

Dharmārāja Vrata (also on Vaiśākha Pūrṇimā).

• Give śruta-anna and a pot of water (udaka-kumbha) to a vipra for the pleasure of Dharmarāja. Phala: the fruit of giving a cow (go-dāna-phala).
• Give a black antelope skin (kṛshṇājina) covered with sesame and gold, with cloth, to a brāhmaṇa who knows all the śāstras. Phala: the same as giving the earth with its seven continents; and enjoyment in Vishṇu-loka as long as the moon and stars shine.
• Give water-filled kalaśas with gold to the best of brāhmaṇas. Phala: no sorrow for life.

Jyeshṭha Pūrṇimā: Vaṭa-Sāvitrī Vrata

The woman (or the man who keeps the vrata) fasts and wipes the Vaṭa tree (banyan, vaṭa-vṛksha) with nectar-like (amṛtopama) water. She ties a thread (sūtra) around it and makes 108 pradakshiṇas (circuits). Then she prays to Sāvitrī, the crown jewel of faithful wives (pativratā-śiromaṇī):

O Jagat-pūjyā! Jagat-mātā Sāvitrī! O Patīdevā, keep me always united with my husband. Salutations to you.

The next day, feed sumaṅgalīs and then eat. Phala: saubhāgya (good fortune).

Āshāḍha Pūrṇimā: Gopādma Vrata

Bathe Śrī Hari in pañcāmṛta (the five nectars) while reciting the Purushasūkta. Worship him with gandha (fragrance) and the upacāras, saying:

Caturb-huja, mahākāya, jāmbūnada-sama-prabha, śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma-Ramā-Garuḍa-śobhita, worshipped by munis, devas, yaksha-gandharva-kinnara: be pleased.

This means: O four-armed one of great body, shining like Jāmbūnada gold, adorned with the śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma and with Ramā and Garuḍa, worshipped by munis, devas, yakshas, gandharvas and kinnaras, be pleased.

Satisfy the ācārya with gifts of clothes and ornaments. Feed other brāhmaṇas with sweet cooked food (mishṭa-pakvānna). Phala: all one’s wishes (abhīshṭas) in this world and the next, by the grace of Śrī Hari.

Kokila Vrata (from Āshāḍha Pūrṇimā to Śrāvaṇa Pūrṇimā). Beginning on this Pūrṇimā, bathe every day in an outside body of water. Through the whole month of Śrāvaṇa, until Pūrṇimā, meditate on Kokilā, who is Gaurī in that form, like this:

Golden-winged, red-eyed, with a coral beak and a lotus face, the colour of musk (kasturī), born in Nandana-vana, resting on a mango and campaka tree, singing sweetly: Pārvatī in the form of Kokilā.

Draw this form in paint on a cloth (paṭa) and worship it every day with gandha and the upacāras. At the end of the vrata, give a golden pratimā, or a pratimā made of sesame paste (tila-pishṭa), with a gift of gold (svarṇa-dakshiṇā) to a brāhmaṇa, reciting:

O Kokilā, born in Caitra-ratha-vana, beloved of Hara, Devī, worshipped by me, I give you to a brāhmaṇa. Grant me all saubhāgyas.

Feed one brāhmaṇa, or thirty sumaṅgalīs, or one sumaṅgalī, and give a gift of clothes. Phala: saubhāgya for seven births (janmas).

Śrāvaṇa Pūrṇimā: Vedopākarma and Rakshā-bandha

On this day, perform tarpana to the devas, ṛshis and pitṛs with Yajurveda mantras. Then perform ṛshi pūjā according to one’s own śākhā (branch of the Veda). Ṛgvedins perform it on Caturdaśī. Sāmavedins perform it in Bhādrapada.

Also perform the Rakshā-vidhāna:

1. Tie a rakshā (protective thread) made of new cotton, cleaned in water and kept in a bronze kalaśa, worshipped with gandha.
2. Offer pūjā to the assembly of devas (deva-samūha).
3. Pray to Bhagavān Vishṇu and the others.
4. Receive the thread from a brāhmaṇa’s hand onto your wrist.
5. Give dakshiṇā to brāhmaṇas.
6. Study the Vedas.
7. Put on a new brahmasūtra (sacred thread) and adorn the new sūtra with kuṅkuma.
8. Feed brāhmaṇas as you are able.
9. Keep eka-bhukta.

Phala: all Vedic acts (vaidika karmas) that were left out, done badly, or never done in the year are made good, as if they had been done.

Bhādrapada Pūrṇimā: Umā-Maheśvara Vrata

Keep eka-bhukta. Worship Bhagavān Śiva with faith (śraddhā). Pray for the vrata with joined hands. Sleep near the mūrti at night. Rise in the fourth watch of the night and perform the daily duties (nityakṛtyas). Wear vibhūti and rudrāksha. Worship Śaṅkara with gandha, bilva leaves, incense, a lamp and naivedya until pradosha (evening twilight). Fast. At moonrise (candrodaya), worship again. Keep the night vigil (jāgaraṇa) at the side of the mūrti.

Keep this vrata for fifteen years. Then perform the udyāpana, the concluding rite:

1. Make pratimās of Umā and Maheśvara in gold or silver.
2. Install them in fifteen kalaśas.
3. Bathe them with pañcāmṛta and with clean water.
4. Perform the sixteen-upacāra pūjā (shoḍaśopacāra-pūjā).
5. Feed fifteen brāhmaṇas with sweet food (mishṭānna).
6. Give one kalaśa to each as dakshiṇā.
7. Give the kalaśa that holds the pratimās to the guru.

Phala: one is born in bhūloka (the earth) fully prosperous and famous.

Śakra Vrata (also on Bhādrapada Pūrṇimā). Bathe in the morning. Worship Sura-nāyaka (Indra, leader of the devas) with gandha, the upacāras and a heap of naivedya. Feed the brāhmaṇas who were invited. Also feed others who come, the poor and those with no protector (anātha). Do this every year. Phala: grain and prosperity. It suits kings, or others who want a good harvest (dhānya-nishpatti).

Āśvayuja Śukla Pūrṇimā: Kōjāgara Vrata

Keep an upavāsa with mastery of the senses (indriya-jaya). Install a golden pratimā of Lakshmī in a copper kalaśa (or a clay one) covered with cloth, and worship her separately with the upacāras. In the evening, at moonrise, fill vessels of gold, silver or clay with ghee and light lamps: one lakh (one hundred thousand), fifty thousand, one thousand, or at least one hundred. Cook plenty of pāyasa with ghee and sugar. Place it in many vessels in the moonlight. After one yāma of the night, offer it to Lakshmī as naivedya. Then feed brāhmaṇas with the pāyasa. Spend the night with dance, song and auspicious music. At dawn (aruṇodaya), bathe, and give the golden pratimā to the guru.

On this night Mahālakshmī goes about the earth (bhūmaṇḍala) with her lotus hands, saying:

I will give wealth to those who worship me tonight with a night vigil (jāgaraṇa).

Phala: prosperity in this world and the next, for everyone who keeps this vrata every year.

Kārtika Pūrṇimā: Kārtika-darśana Vrata and dīpa-dāna

To gain the state of a vipra (vipra-tva) and victory over all enemies (sarva-śatru-jaya), keep the Kārtika-darśana vrata. In the evening, hold the Tripura-utsava (the festival of Tripura) with the gift of lamps (dīpa-dāna). This brings happiness to all living beings (sarva-prāṇi-sukhāvaha). Even insects, birds, mosquitoes, trees, water creatures and land creatures that see this Kārtika lamp will not be born again on this earth. They attain moksha.

At moonrise, worship the six Kṛttikās (Shaṭ-kṛttikās). Worship Kārttikeya, Khaḍgī, Varuṇa and Hutāśana with gandha, flowers, incense, lamps, naivedya and paramānna (the best food). Place a lamp outside the house. Near it, place a water-filled vessel in a square of four aṅgulas painted with sandal water. Fill it with cow’s milk. Place in it a fish of gold, or a fish with pearl eyes, saying:

Mahāmatsyāya namaḥ.

This means: salutations to the Great Fish. Then pray:

I perform the gift of the ocean of milk (kshīra-sāgara-dāna). By the power of this dāna, may I rejoice in the presence of Hari.

On this day also perform vṛshotsarga, the release of a bull, and keep the vrata through the night. Phala: Rudra-loka.

Mārgaśīrsha Pūrṇimā

Give common rock salt (āḍa-kalaṇaṃbu) with gold to a peaceful brāhmaṇa (śānta brāhmaṇa), for fulfilment of all desires (sarva-kāma-samṛddhi).

Pushya-yukta Pūrṇimā (also on Mārgaśīrsha Pūrṇimā). This is the Pūrṇimā on which Pushya nakshatra comes together with it. Once Lakshmī left the world in anguish. Then Śrī Hari, Indra, Candra, Bṛhaspati and Śukra together adorned the world on this day with the festive play of good fortune (saubhāgya-utsava-kēḷī). So on this day:

1. Anoint the body with mustard oil and water of all herbs (sarvaushadhi-jala).
2. Bathe.
3. Wear new clothes.
4. Touch the auspicious things (maṅgala dravyas) and bow to them.
5. Worship Śrī Hari, Indra, Śukra, Candra and Bṛhaspati with gandha and the upacāras.
6. Perform homa.
7. Feed brāhmaṇas with pāyasa-anna (rice cooked in milk).

Phala: poverty is destroyed; joy in this world and the next.

Māgha Pūrṇimā

Give to a brāhmaṇa, according to your means (vitta): sesame (tila), cotton, a blanket (kambali), jewels (ratna), a bodice (kañcuka), upalesha (socks or footwear), pāda-rakshā (footwear) and money (dhana). Phala: the joy of svarga (svarga-ānanda). Also worship Śaṅkara on this day. Phala: the fruit of the aśvamedha; Vishṇu-loka.

Phālguna Pūrṇimā: Holikā Pūjā

Gather various logs of wood (kāshṭhas) and stones in one place. Kindle the fire with mantras that drive away rākshasas (rakshaghna-mantras) and recite:

Aspraka-abhaya-saṃtrasaiḥ kṛtvā hoṃ tāmali-bāliśaiḥ, atas tvāṃ pūjayishyāmi bhūte bhūti-prado bhava.

The last part means: therefore I will worship you; O Bhūtā, be the giver of prosperity (bhūti). Then set the wood alight. Make a pradakshiṇā with the sound of songs and instruments (gīta-vāditra-dhvani). Celebrate the festival (utsava).

This Hālikā rākshasī had terrified Prahlāda. So she is burnt with logs of wood and auspicious songs (maṅgala-gītas). This is called Saṃvatsara-dāha. In another version it is called Kāma-dāha. The ways of the world are many. In another interpretation, two separate devatās are involved.

Amāvāsyā vratas month by month

Amāvāsyā is supremely dear to the pitṛ-devatās. The general rule: on every Amāvāsyā, perform the pārvaṇa śrāddha to worship the pitṛs (pitṛ-arcana), with the feeding of the twice-born (dvija-bhojana) and the gift of a cow (go-dāna). All of these bring much puṇya (merit).

• Jyeshṭha Amāvāsyā. Keep the Sāvitrī vrata, as described above under Jyeshṭha Pūrṇimā.
• Āshāḍha, Śrāvaṇa and Bhādrapada Amāvāsyās. Pitṛ śrāddha, dāna, homa and pūjā of the devas on these days give akshaya-phala (fruit that does not end).
• Bhādrapada Amāvāsyā. In the afternoon (aparāhṇa), cut darbha grass that grew in a sesame field, using brahma-mantras with huṃ phaṭ. Use these darbhas for all purposes at all times.
• Āśvayuja Amāvāsyā. Perform pitṛ śrāddha and pitṛ tarpana especially on this day. Done on the bank of the Gaṅgā or at Gayā, it gives moksha.
• Kārtika Amāvāsyā. In temples (deva-ālayas), homes, rivers, parks and cow-sheds (go-shṭhas), people give lamps (dīpa-dāna) and perform Lakshmī pūjā with gold and silver. Decorate cows, adorn their horns and limbs, and worship them. Give them fodder (yavasa-anna-dāna). Bow and make a pradakshiṇā. Dūtya (omen-reading) on this day shows the phala of the year.
• Mārgaśīrsha Amāvāsyā. Śrāddha, feeding brāhmaṇas, rules of brahmacarya and the like, and japa, homa and worship all serve the pitṛ pūjā.
• Pushya and Māgha Amāvāsyās. Pitṛ śrāddha gives the greatest phala. If the Karṇapātā-arka-yoga occurs, perform it at Gayā and similar tīrthas.
• Phālguna Amāvāsyā. A simple śrāddha and the feeding of brāhmaṇas give the phala of all dānas (sarva-dāna-phala).
• Soma-vāra Amāvāsyā. An Amāvāsyā that falls on a Monday gives greater phala (adhika-phala) than usual.

Concluding words

Sanātana Maharshi ends the chapter:

Thus I have briefly explained the tithi-kāryas to you. In each tithi there are additional viśeshas which are explained at length in other Purāṇas.

Sources

• Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 124