Rambhā Tṛtīyā Vrata
Rambhā Tṛtīyā Vrata, simply known as Rambha Tritiya Vrata, Sanskrit: रम्भा तृतीया व्रत, Telugu: రంభా తృతీయ వ్రతం, Hindi: रंभा तृतीया व्रत.
The Rambhā Tṛtīyā Vrata is a twelve-month vrata of Devī. It is kept on the Śukla Tṛtīyā (the third day of the bright half) of each month, from Mārgaśīrsha through Kārtika. Each month Devī is worshipped under a different name, with set flowers, a set prāśna (a substance taken by mouth) and a set naivedya (food offering). The Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa gives it in the Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 120. The vrata is named after the apsarā Rambhā, who was the first to keep it.
Who taught it
Brahmā declared this vrata to Nārada.
The monthly observance
On each Śukla Tṛtīyā the observer fasts (upavāsa). The observer holds kuśodaka (water with kuśa grass) in the hand, dips the tips of bilva leaves in it and worships Devī. Each month has its own name of Devī, its own flowers, naivedya and prāśna, and its own material for danta-dhāvana (cleaning the teeth).
| Month | Devī | Flowers | Naivedya | Prāśna | Danta-dhāvana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mārgaśīrsha | Mahāgaurī | Bilva leaves | — | Kuśodaka | Kadamba twig |
| Pushya | Pārvatī | Marubaka | Kṛśara (rice and sesame) | — | Mallikā twig |
| Māgha | Subhadrādevī | White lotus (tella-kamala) | Perugannam (yoghurt rice) | Ghee | — |
| Phālguṇa | Gomatī | Kunda | Śashkulī (a pūrī, or a gruel of sesame and lentils) | Jīva (a sweet vegetable) | Kunda stalk |
| Caitra | Viśālākshī | Damanaka | Kṛśarānnam | Yoghurt | Tagara wood |
| Vaiśākha | Śrīmukhī | Karṇikāra | — | Aśoka-mogga (an aśoka bud) | Vaṭa (banyan twig) |
| Jyeshṭha | Nārāyaṇī | Śatapallī | Sugar | Lavanga (cloves) | Śataparṇī twig |
| Āshāḍha | Mādhavī | Bilva leaves | Ghee and pāyasam | Tila (sesame) | Gūlar twig |
| Śrāvaṇa | Śrīdevī | — | Kshīrānnam | Tagara | Mallikā twig |
| Bhādrapada | Uttamādevī | Lotus (padma) | Jaggery | Siṅgaḍa | — |
| Āśvayuja | Rājaputrī | Japā | Sugandhānnam (fragrant rice) | Anna (cooked rice) | — |
| Kārtika | Padmajā | Jāti | Kṛśagānnam | Pañcagavya | — |
The udyāpana
At the end of the twelve months:
- Worship brāhmaṇas together with their wives and serve them food cooked with ghee and sesame.
- Worship Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī with vastra (cloth), chatra (umbrella) and gold, with jaggery as naivedya.
- Keep jāgaraṇa (an all-night vigil) with gīta-vādya (song and music).
- At dawn, give godāna (the gift of a cow) and other dānas as one is able.
Origin of the name
The vrata is called Rambhā Tṛtīyā because the apsarā Rambhā was the first to keep it, and so she became blessed (dhanyā).
The phala
Those who keep this vrata with bhakti (devotion) and śraddhā (faith) receive all sampadas (kinds of prosperity).
Sources
- Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Ācāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 120