Gaurīloka
Gaurīloka · gaurī-loka, “the world of Gaurī”
Caitra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Caitra.
Gaurīloka is the loka (world) of Devī Gaurī. In the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches Yudhishṭhira many vratas, most of them kept by women for saubhāgya (the blessing of a happy married life), whose keepers at the end dwell in Gaurīloka. The vratas and the dāna that lead there are these, in the order of the text.
The vratas that lead to Gaurīloka
- Aśokavrata. Sītā, on her way to the forest, worshipped the Aśoka tree with gandha, flowers, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya, tila and akshata, and went round it. The woman who worships the Aśoka with tila, akshata, wheat and mustard, bows with the mantra, goes round it and gives dakshiṇā to a brāhmaṇa is freed of śoka (grief), enjoys the happiness of the world with her husband for a long time, and at the end dwells in Gaurīloka.
- Kokilāvrata. The woman who keeps it by its rule has saubhāgya for seven births, and at the end sits in an excellent vimāna and goes to Gaurīloka. Kīrtimālā heard the rite from Vasishṭha and kept it.
- Rambhā Tṛtīyā. This vrata runs through the twelve months from Mārgaśīrsha. In its Āśvina month, on the śukla tṛtīyā, Devī Pārvatī is worshipped by the name Giriputrī, with prāśana of water mixed with rice; the next morning brāhmaṇas are honoured and given gold with sandal. For that month the vratī gains the fruit of all yajñas and is praised in Gaurīloka.
- Rasakalyāṇinī Tṛtīyā. A kumārī, a sadhavā (a wife whose husband lives), a widow or a durbhagā who keeps this vrata is honoured in Gaurīloka.
- Ārdrānandakarī Tṛtīyā. A woman who keeps it enjoys all the happiness of the world and at the end dwells with her husband in the loka of Gaurī.
- Lalitā Shashṭhī. The woman who keeps it stays rich in happiness and saubhāgya for a long time and at the end dwells in Gaurīloka.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 9–11, 24, 26–27, 41
Among the miscellaneous vratas
In the chapter of miscellaneous vratas (Prakīrṇa Vrata), four lead to Gaurīloka:
- Gaurīvrata, in the month of Caitra: give up curd, milk, ghee, and things made with guḍa, khāṇḍ and sugarcane; afterwards honour two brāhmaṇas and give curd, milk, two cloths and vessels filled with rasa, saying gaurī me prīyatām, “may Gaurī be pleased with me”. The keeper reaches Gaurīloka.
- Saubhāgyavrata, for Bhavānī: from the śukla tṛtīyā of Phālguna eat no salt for one year; at the end honour a brāhmaṇa with his wife and give a house with all that a householder needs and an excellent bed, saying bhavānī prīyatām. The keeper attains Gaurīloka; this vrata gives the highest saubhāgya.
- Umāvrata, for Umā: on the śukla tṛtīyā of Māgha or Caitra eat guḍa, and give a brāhmaṇa a guḍadhenu (a cow of jaggery) with all its accessories. The keeper lives in Gaurīloka.
- Rudravrata (the third of that name): beginning in Kārtika, on the tṛtīyā of each month, eat at night lapasī cooked in cow’s urine. The keeper lives one kalpa in Gaurīloka and then becomes a king on earth.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 121
The gift of the Guḍaparvata
One who gives the Guḍaparvata, the mountain of jaggery, by its rule is honoured by the gandharvas and established in Gaurīloka. When a hundred kalpas have passed, he is born on earth with long life and freedom from disease, unconquerable by enemies, the ruler of the seven dvīpas.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 196–197
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 9–11, 24, 26–27, 41, 121, 196–197