Shashṭi Vratas
Shashṭi Vrata, simply known as Shashti Vratas, Sanskrit: षष्टि व्रत, Telugu: షష్టి వ్రతాలు, Hindi: षष्टि व्रत.
The Shashṭi Vratas are sixty vratas that Nandikeśvara taught to Nārada. Rudra himself first spoke them. They are in the Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 99. Each vrata has its own time, its own period of keeping (from one day to a full year), one or more foods to give up or disciplines to follow, and a dāna at the end. The phalas go from Śiva-loka and Vishṇu-loka to the reaching of Parabrahma.
The sixty vratas
1. Deva Vrata
Keep nakta (eating only at night) for a year. At the end, give a gold triśūla, a cakra and vastra (cloth) to a brāhmaṇa who is a householder, with the thought “Śivo’ham asmi, Rudro’ham asmi” (I am Śiva, I am Rudra). Phala: Śiva-loka, honoured and happy. This deva-vrata destroys great pāpa.
2. Līlā Vrata
Keep nakta on alternate days for a year. At the end, give a gold kamala (lotus), a vessel of śarkarā (sugar) and a gold vṛshabha pratimā (image of a bull) to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: the place of Vishṇu (Vishṇu-sthāna).
3. Prīti Vrata
Take no oil-bath for four months, beginning with Āshāḍha. During these four months give food supplies every day to a brāhmaṇa or to any worthy person. Phala: Vishṇu-bhavana.
4. Gaurī Vrata
Through the whole month of Caitra, give up milk, curd, ghee and sugarcane juice. Worship a brāhmaṇa couple. Give a rasa-pātra (a vessel of any one of the four foods given up) and fine cloth, with “Gaurī prīyatām.” Phala: the removal of avidyā (ignorance).
5. Kāma Vrata
At the start of the Vasanta ṛtu (spring), on Caitra Śukla Trayodaśī, keep nakta. Then give a gold aśoka flower, a piece of sugarcane (in Bhārātīya measures) and two fresh cloths to a brāhmaṇa, with “Pradyumnaḥ prīyatām.” Phala: freedom from śoka (sorrow) for ever, and one kalpa in Vishṇu-loka.
6. Śiva Vrata
From the start of Āshāḍha, for four months, do not cut the nails. Also give up pārākam (a vegetable), honey, ghee and jaggery. At the start of Kārtika, give a gold pārāka fruit to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: Rudra-loka.
7. Saumya Vrata
Through both the Hemanta and Śiśira ṛtus, use no flowers for yourself. At the end, in Phālguṇa, give three gold flowers (for the flowers of the two ṛtus) thrice daily, in the morning, at midday and in the evening, with “Śiva-Keśavau prīyetām.” Phala: parama-pada (the highest state).
8. Saubhāgya Vrata
From Phālguṇa Śukla Tṛtīyā to the end of the month, give up salt. At the end, worship a brāhmaṇa couple and give one’s home and a bed with all its things, with “Bhavānī prīyatām.” Phala: one kalpa in Gaurī-loka.
9. Sārasvata Vrata
Keep mauna (silence) at the times of sandhyā for a period. At the end, give a ghee vessel (ghṛta-pātra), a pair of cloths, sesame and a bell to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: in this world, beauty (rūpa) and learning (vidyā); in the next world, Sārasvata-loka, from which there is no return.
10. Sampat Vrata
Fast on Pañcamī. At the end, on Shashṭhī, give a gold vessel (pātra) with gold inside it to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: birth after birth with sampat (prosperity), and Vishṇu-loka.
11. Śuddhi Vrata
For a year stand in the presence of Bhagavān Śiva or Bhagavān Keśava, wearing gandha (sandal paste) each day. At the end, give a milch cow and a water kumbha (pot). Phala: ten thousand births as a king, and then Śiva-loka. This śuddhi-vrata destroys pāpa.
12. Kīrti Vrata
For a year, without jealousy, bow every day to an aśvattha tree, to Bhāskara and to Gaṅgā. Keep mauna and eat once a day. At the end, worship a brāhmaṇa couple and give three milch cows, a gold vṛshabha and other gifts. Phala: equal to the phala of the Aśvamedha; wealth and fame (aiśvarya and kīrti). It is known as the kīrti-vrata.
13. Kāmadhug Vrata
Smear a circle with cow dung (gomaya). Do the ghṛta-abhisheka (bathing with ghee) of Bhagavān Śiva or Bhagavān Keśava and worship with akshatas (unbroken rice grains) and flowers. Then give sesame, a milch cow and a gold kamala (eight Bhārātīya aṅgulas) to a brāhmaṇa who knows the Sāmagāna. Phala: Śiva-loka.
14. Vīra Vrata
On Navamī, eat once and also feed a virgin girl. Give her a gold-embroidered blouse and a sārī. Give gold to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: arbuda births with beauty and with victory over enemies, and Śiva-loka. This vrata gives puṇya and ānanda (joy) especially to women.
15. Pitṛ Vrata
On Pūrṇimā, drink only milk and fast. On Pratipadā, perform śrāddha for the pitṛs. Give to brāhmaṇas five milch cows, two reddish-yellow (piśaṅga) cloths, two houses and two water kumbhas. Phala: both oneself and one’s pitṛs are freed; Vishṇu-loka; and birth as a cakravartī at the start of the next kalpa.
16. Ānanda Vrata
From Caitra, for four months, give water free of charge (āyācita) every day. At the end, give a maṇika (an earthen vessel), anna (food), vastra, a sesame vessel (tila-pātra) and gold. Phala: Brahma-loka, and then a king at the start of the kalpa.
17. Rājya Vrata
For a year, do the pañcāmṛta-snāna (bath with the five nectars) of Bhagavān Śiva every day. At the end, give a cow (dhenu), the pañcāmṛtas and a śaṅkha (conch) to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: Śiva-loka, and then a king at the start of the kalpa.
18. Ahiṃsā Vrata
For a year, if one eats meat, give up meat. At the end, give a milch cow and a gold mṛga (deer or antelope) pratimā. Phala: the phala of the Aśvamedha; Brahma-loka, from which there is no return; and then a king at the start of the kalpa.
19. Sūrya Vrata
Through the whole month of Māgha, bathe at dawn every day. At the end of the month, worship a brāhmaṇa couple with vastra, garlands (mālya) and ornaments, and feed them. Phala: a home in Ravi-loka for as long as one lives.
20. Vishṇu Vrata
For four months from Āshāḍha, bathe every morning. At the start of Kārtika, feed brāhmaṇas and give a cow. Phala: Vishṇu-loka.
21. Śīla Vrata
For one ayana (six months) give up flowers. For the next ayana give up ghee. At the end of the year, give flower garlands, a ghṛta-dhenu (a cow of ghee) and a meal of ghṛta-pāyasa (rice pudding with ghee) to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: Śiva-loka, and health (ārogya) in this life.
22. Dīpa Vrata
For a year, give up oil in food. Every day, at sandhyā, light a lamp before the devatā. At the end of the year, give a gold cakra, a śūla and a pair of cloths to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: the observer becomes bright with tejas, and reaches Rudra-loka.
23. Gaurī Vrata (second)
From the Kṛttikā nakshatra in Kārtika, keep nakta for a year, eating gomūtra and a porridge of wheat and milk. At the end of the year, give a cow. Phala: one kalpa in Gaurī-loka, and then birth as a king.
24. Dīpya Vrata
Through the whole month of Caitra, give up gandha-anulepana (smearing with scent). At the end of the month, give a vessel filled with gandha and a pearl shell, with white cloth, to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: Varuṇa-loka.
25. Kī Vrata
Through the whole month of Vaiśākha, give up flowers and salt. At the end of the month, give salt pots (lavaṇa-ghaṭas) or a cow of salt (lavaṇa-dhenu). Phala: in this world, radiance (kānti) and fame (kīrti); in the next world, Vishṇu-loka for a kalpa, and then a king.
26. Brahma Vrata
Prepare a gold brahmāṇḍa (an image of the egg of Brahmā) of at least three pala in weight. Heap up sesame and perform homa for three days. On an auspicious day, worship a brāhmaṇa couple with cloth, garlands and ornaments, and give the brahmāṇḍa with “Viśvātmā prīyatām.” Phala: no rebirth, and the reaching of Parabrahma.
27. Su Vrata (Suvrata)
On an auspicious day give a cow that has just calved (ubhaya-mukha-go-dāna), with much gold. Take only milk that day. Phala: no return, and parama-pada.
28. Kalpa Vrata
Keep payovrata (a diet of milk only) for three days. On the fourth day make a gold kalpa-vṛksha (wish-giving tree) of at least one pala in weight and give it with rice. Phala: Brahma-loka.
29. Bhīma Vrata
Fast for a whole month, with the diet of eka-bhukta (one meal a day) or saktu (barley flour). At the end of the month, give a milch cow to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: Vishṇu-loka.
30. Dharā Vrata
Give a bhū-pratimā (an image of the earth) made of at least twenty pala of gold to a brāhmaṇa, and keep payovrata that day. Phala: Rudra-loka; the puṇya that results follows the observer for seven kalpas.
31. Mahā Vrata
On Māgha or Caitra Śukla Tṛtīyā, eat guḍa-anna (rice with jaggery) and give a cow of jaggery (guḍa-dhenu-dāna). Phala: Gaurī-loka, and the observer is filled with joy.
32. Prabhā Vrata
Fast for fifteen days, with the diet of eka-bhukta or saktu. At the end, give two kāpilā cows. Phala: the observer is worshipped by devas and asuras; Brahma-loka; and then a king at the next kalpa.
33. Prāpti Vrata
Fast with eka-bhukta for a full year. At the end of the year, give vessels filled with bhakshyas and water. Phala: one kalpa in Śiva-loka.
34. Sugatīta Vrata
Fast on the Ashṭamīs throughout a year. At the end, give cows. Phala: Indra-pada.
35. Vaiśvānara Vrata
Through the four rainy months, beginning with Āshāḍha, give cooked food to a brāhmaṇa every day. At the start of Kārtika, give a ghṛta-dhenu. Phala: Parabrahma. This vrata destroys all pāpa.
36. Kṛshṇa Vrata
Keep nakta on the Ekādaśīs throughout a year. At the end of the year, give a gold Vishṇu-cakra. Phala: Vishṇu-loka, and then a king at the next kalpa.
37. Devī Vrata
For a year, eat only milk-rice. At the end of the year, give two milch cows to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: one kalpa in Lakshmī-loka.
38. Bhānu Vrata
Keep nakta on the Saptamīs throughout a year. At the end of the year, give a milch cow. Phala: Ravi-loka.
39. Vainayaka Vrata
Keep nakta on the Caturthīs throughout a year. At the end of the year, give a gold elephant pratimā. Phala: Śiva-loka.
40. Kāla Vrata
For four months from Āshāḍha, give up the seasonal fruits (mahā-phala). At the start of Kārtika, make gold pratimās of those fruits and give them with two milch cows. Phala: Vishṇu-loka.
41. Saura Vrata
From the start of the Hemanta ṛtu, fast on the Saptamīs throughout a year. At the Hemanta month (the end of the year), give a gold kamala, a cow and a water kumbha. Phala: Sūrya-loka.
42. Vishṇu Vrata (second)
Fast on twelve Dvādaśīs throughout a year. At the end of the year, worship and honour a brāhmaṇa with a cow, vastra and gold. Phala: parama-pada.
43. Vṛsha Vrata
In the month of Kārtika, perform vṛshotsarjana (the release of a bull) and keep nakta. Phala: Śiva-sāna.
44. Prājāpatya Vrata
Keep a kṛcchravrata (an austere fast) like the cāndrāyaṇa. At the end, give a cow, feed brāhmaṇas and eat oneself. Phala: Prājāpatya.
45. Tryambaka Vrata
Keep nakta on the Caturdaśīs throughout a year. At the end of the year, give cows and gold. Phala: Śiva-pada.
46. Ghṛta Vrata
Fast for seven days in a row. On the eighth day, give a ghee kumbha (ghṛta-kumbha) to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: Brahma-loka.
47. Indra Vrata
Sleep on darbha grass for a year. At the end of the year, give gold and a milch cow. Phala: one kalpa in Indra-loka.
48. Śiva Vrata (second)
On each Tṛtīyā throughout a year, eat food that is not cooked on fire (raw, uncooked food). At the end of the year, give a cow. Phala: Śiva-loka, from which there is no return.
49. Aśva Vrata
Make a gold ratha (chariot) and two gold aśvas (horses) of at least two pala. Give them, and fast that day. Phala: a hundred kalpas in svarga, and then a cakravartī at the next creation.
50. Kari Vrata
Make a gold ratha and two gold gajas (elephants) of at least two pala. Give them, and fast. Phala: Satya-loka, and then a king at the next creation.
51. Nirduḥkha Vrata
For a year, keep eka-bhukta or nakta. At the end of the year, give a cow. Phala: Yakshādhipatitva (rule over the yakshas). Leap months (adhika māsa) that fall in the year are not counted among the twelve.
52. Varuṇa Vrata
Spend a whole night under water. At dawn the next morning, give a cow. Phala: Varuṇa-loka.
53. Candra Vrata
Keep the cāndrāyaṇa fast for a month. At the end of the month, give a gold candra pratimā. Phala: Candra-loka.
54. Rudra Vrata
On Jyeshṭha Śukla Ashṭamī and Caturdaśī, keep the pañcatapas (standing among four fires with the sun above) and give a cow in the evening. Phala: svarga.
55. Bhavānī Vrata
On each Tṛtīyā throughout a year, put up a cāndanī (a cloth awning). At the end of the year, give a cow. Phala: Bhavānī-loka.
56. Snāpaka Vrata
On Māgha Śukla Saptamī, spend the whole night in wet clothes. At dawn, give a cow. Phala: one kalpa in svarga, and then a king at the start of the next kalpa.
57. Indra Vrata (second)
Fast on a single day. Worship the brāhmaṇa couple with ornaments at all three sandhyās. Phala: mukti.
58. Soma Vrata
On each Śukla Dvitīyā throughout a year, give a salt vessel (lavaṇa-pātra) to Candra. At the end of the year, give a cow to a brāhmaṇa. Phala: Śiva-loka, and then a king at the start of the next kalpa.
59. Vaiśvānara Vrata (second)
On each Pratipadā throughout a year, eat once a day. At the end of the year, give a kāpilā cow. Phala: Agni-loka.
60. Vipla Vrata
On each Daśamī throughout a year, eat once a day. At the end of the year, give ten cows and a gold form of the ten directions (daśa-diśas), and worship Brahmā, Vishṇu and Rudra and the best of the brāhmaṇas (dvijottamas). Phala: the destruction of all great pāpas (mahā-pātakas).
The phala of all sixty
Nandikeśvara ended by saying that whoever hears or reads this Shashṭi Vrata Kalpa in full will be ruler of the gandharvas for a hundred manvantaras. He told Nārada that it brings puṇya (puṇyakara) and that all the world praises it (viśvajana-vandya). He asked Nārada to recite it to brāhmaṇas and to others who wish to hear it.
Sources
- Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 99