Āśā Devīs

Āśā Devī, “the devīs of the directions”

The Āśā Devīs are the ten direction-devīs. Śrī Kṛshṇa names them to King Yudhishṭhira in the rule of the Āśā Daśamī vrata, by whose power Damayantī regained her husband Nala.

The ten are Aindrī, Āgneyī, Yāmyā, Nairṛti, Vāruṇī, Vāyavyā, Saumyā, Aiśānī, Adhaḥ and Brāhmī.

Their pūjā

On the daśamī of the śukla paksha of any month, at night, they receive pūjā with flowers, alakta and candana. In the courtyard of the house images of the lords of the ten directions, beginning with the east, are formed with barley or flour, with their vāhanas and weapons, and are regarded as the direction-devīs beginning with Aindrī. Each is offered naivedya full of ghee, a separate lamp and seasonal fruit. Then one prays:

आशाशाशाः सदा सन्तु सिद्धयन्तां मे मनोरथाः ।
भवतीनां प्रसादेन सदा कल्याणमस्त्विति ।।

āśāśāśāḥ sadā santu siddhayantāṃ me manorathāḥ |
bhavatīnāṃ prasādena sadā kalyāṇamastviti ||

O Āśā Devīs, may my hopes always bear fruit, may my wishes be fulfilled, and by your grace may it always go well with me.

The vrata is kept every month until one’s wish is fulfilled. At the udyāpana images of the Āśā Devīs of gold, silver or flour receive pūjā in the courtyard, and one prays to them for the fulfilment of one’s wishes. Śrī Kṛshṇa says: “Pārtha, one who keeps this Āśā Daśamī vrata with śraddhā has all wishes fulfilled.” This vrata is especially good for women.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 64

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 64