Tṛtīyā Vratas (Nārada Purāṇa)
Tṛtīyā Vrata, simply known as Tritiya Vratas, Sanskrit: तृतीया व्रत, Telugu: తృతీయ వ్రతాలు, Hindi: तृतीया व्रत.
Tṛtīyā is the third lunar tithi of each fortnight. In the Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Sanātana Maharshi teaches Nārada the vratas of this tithi through the twelve months. The teaching is in the Pūrvārdha, Chapter 112. The Devī who receives pūjā on Tṛtīyā is Gaurī-Pārvatī in her many forms: Brahmā-Gaurī, Saubhāgya-Sundarī, Hara-Gaurī, Vishṇu-Gaurī and Kula-saukhyadā. The best known Tṛtīyā is Akshaya Tṛtīyā, the Vaiśākha Śukla Tṛtīyā, a day of merit that never runs out. The chapter also gives the Hariṭalikā Vrata and the immersion (visarjana) of Gaurī’s image in a river.
Overview
All the Tṛtīyā vratas centre on pūjā of Devī in her many auspicious forms. They give saubhāgya (a happy married life), children and, in the end, Gaurī-loka or Devī-loka.
The general vidhāna (procedure) for every Tṛtīyā vrata is Devī-pūjā, vipra-pūjā, dāna, homa and visarjana. The same procedure is used in all the months.
The vratas of each month
Vaiśākha Śukla Tṛtīyā: Akshaya Tṛtīyā
This is the most sacred Tṛtīyā. It is called Akshaya Tṛtīyā, the “imperishable third”. Any dāna, japa or pūjā done on this day gives akshaya phala, a phala that is never used up.
Offer pūjā to Gaurī with all the upacāras (offerings). Give arghya and vāyanas (gifts of food). Then take the prasāda-phala (the fruit of the prasāda) on a string around the neck, for the growth of all desires (sarvakāma-samṛddhi).
In the morning, rise early and adorn yourself. With companions and music, carry the pratimā (image) of Gaurī Devī in a procession and set it in the river. Then say the prayer of visarjana: “O auspicious one! O giver of welfare! I invited you, and you have been duly worshipped. Now grant me saubhāgya and depart freely.”
Phala: all desires are fulfilled, and Gaurī-loka is reached at death.
Jyeshṭha or Āshāḍha Tṛtīyā: Hariṭalikā Vrata
The Hariṭalikā Vrata is kept with Gaurī-pūjā. Offer pūjā to Pārvatī Devī with gandha, pushpa, dhūpa, dīpa and naivedya. Give arghya. Feed brāhmaṇas.
Kārtika Śukla Tṛtīyā: Vishṇu-Gaurī Vrata
Offer pūjā to Jagadvandyā Devī, who is Gaurī in the form of the consort of Bhagavān Vishṇu, with special upacāras. Feed a muttayidava (a married woman) and offer her auspicious things (maṅgala-dravya) with namaskāra. Then release, for the joy (prīti) of Vishṇu-Gaurī.
Phala: welfare in both worlds.
Mārgaśīra Śukla Tṛtīyā: Hara-Gaurī Vrata
Keep the auspicious Hara-Gaurī Vrata by the earlier procedure (pūrva-vidhi). Offer pūjā to Jagadambikā, who is Gaurī together with Hara, that is Bhagavān Śiva.
Phala: all the pleasures one enjoys in this world, and Devī-loka at death, where one lives with Devī.
Pushya Śukla Tṛtīyā: Brahmā-Gaurī Vrata
Offer pūjā to Gaurī in her Brahmā-Gaurī form, by the method already given. Offer nālikerajala (coconut water) as arghya.
Phala: by the grace of Brahmā-Gaurī, the keeper lives with her in Brahmā-Gaurī-loka.
Māgha Śukla Tṛtīyā: Saubhāgya-Sundarī Vrata
Offer pūjā to Saubhāgya-Sundarī by the method already given (pūrvokta).
Phala: Devī herself, with joy, gives her own loka.
Phālguna Śukla Tṛtīyā: Kula-saukhyadā Vrata
Offer pūjā to Kula-saukhyadā Devī with gandha, pushpa and the upacāras.
Phala: she is sarva-maṅgala-prada, the giver of all that is auspicious.
The general vidhāna for all Tṛtīyās
- Devī-pūjā with gandha, pushpa, dhūpa, dīpa and naivedya.
- Vipra-pūjā: honouring brāhmaṇas.
- Dāna: gifts to brāhmaṇas.
- Homa: the fire offering.
- Visarjana: the respectful release of Devī.
- Brahmacarya and the other niyamas throughout.
Sources
- Nārada Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapter 112