Anaraṇya and the Ārogya Vrata
The Ārogya Vrata is a year-long observance to Bhāskara, the Sun, who is a form of Bhagavān Vishṇu. It is kept on the saptamī (seventh lunar day) of the bright half (śukla-paksha) of the month of Māgha. The Varāha Purāṇa teaches it through the account of King Anaraṇya, a mighty and handsome sārvabhauma (ruler of the whole earth). He saw a divine lotus at Māna-sarovara and wished to wear it for his own glory. For this he was struck with kushṭha (leprosy). The ṛshi Vasishṭha came, explained his fault, and taught him the Ārogya Vrata. By it the king was cured and reached the highest state.
The Ārogya Vrata
The vrata is first given as a method and then shown through the king’s life. The follower (sādhaka) fasts on the saptamī of the bright half of Māgha. On the day before, the shashṭhī, food is taken. On saptamī he worships Bhāskara, the Sun, with these names:
Ādityā! Bhāskarā! Ravī! Bhānū! Sūryā! Divākarā! Prabhākarā!
Saptamī is a day of complete fast (upavāsa). On the next day, ashṭamī, food is taken again. This is the basic rhythm of the vrata. When it is kept for one full year, it gives ārogya (perfect health), dhana (wealth) and dhānya (grain) in this very life. After death it gives the auspicious place from which there is no return, which is moksha. (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62)
King Anaraṇya at Māna-sarovara
In former times there was a great king named Anaraṇya. He ruled the whole earth, had immense power and a shining form. One day this best of men went to the divine Māna-sarovara, together with devas. In the middle of the lake he saw a great white lotus of rare beauty, blazing with light.
The king was overcome by its splendour. He said to his charioteer (sārathi): “Bring me that lotus. I will wear it on my head and be praised in the assembly of all.” (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62)
The sound from the lotus
The charioteer entered the water and reached for the lotus. The moment he touched it, a terrible roar (huṃkāra) burst out of the lotus. Struck by that sound, the charioteer fell to the ground and died on the spot.
The king was struck by the sound too. At once his colour changed completely. Leprosy seized him, and he lost all his strength (bala) and vitality (vīrya). Seeing himself in this state, the great king was filled with grief. He stood there bewildered, wondering what had happened. (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62)
Vasishṭha comes and explains
While Anaraṇya was lost in distress, the great ascetic Vasishṭha, a son of Brahmā himself, arrived at that place. He saw the king’s state and asked: “O Mahārāja, what is this affliction upon your body? Tell me what I must know.” The king told him the whole account of the lotus. Vasishṭha listened and then spoke with grave authority:
“O king, you are both a sādhu (good person) and an asādhu (one who has erred), and because of that this leprosy has come upon you.”
The king joined his palms, trembling, and asked: “How am I both a sādhu and an asādhu? How has this leprosy come to me?”
Vasishṭha explained:
“This is the Brahmodbhava lotus, the lotus born from Brahmā himself. It is famed through the three worlds. Merely by seeing it, all the devas become visible. It appears in any place for only six months. Whoever sees it and then enters the water is freed from all pāpa (sin) and attains moksha. Your charioteer saw it and entered the water meaning to take it, and so he was freed from all pāpa. He has reached a beautiful state. But you, when you saw it, spoke with the wish to wear it on your head as a worldly ornament and to win the praise of the world. That thought of taking it for yourself is what this deva showed as your pāpa. The Sun himself lives in the heart of this lotus. He is the eternal Paramātman. Because you coveted this sacred thing for show, the deva showed you this punishment. Now you must worship that same deva.”
(Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62)
Vasishṭha teaches the Ārogya Vrata
After explaining the cause of the illness, Vasishṭha taught Anaraṇya the whole Ārogya Vrata. This is the worship of Bhāskara described above. It includes the saptamī observance, the names of the Sun, and the year-long cycle of fasting (upavāsa), worship (arcana) and breaking the fast (pāraṇa). Agastya, who tells this to the king, is himself named as the one who tells this account on Bhāskara’s behalf. (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62)
The king is cured
King Anaraṇya kept the Ārogya Vrata with full devotion (bhakti). He gained great siddhi (success) and was freed from the disease at once. By the grace of Bhāskara, who is Vishṇu, and made pure by the tapas (austerity) of the vrata, he reached the highest state. (Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62)
Sources
- Varāha Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 62