184 - Vows observed on the eighth lunar day

Agni said: 

1. Since the gods) Brahma and others worshipped the (divine) mothers oneshould repeat (their names) on the eighth, lunar day of the group of (divine) mothers. One would get wealth by the worship of (lord) Krishņa on the dark fortnight in the month of chaitra (April-May) and for a year. 

2-10. Ishall describe the krishņāshtami vrata (the vow practised on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight). Itshould be performed in the month of mārgasira (December-January). Having (fasted) in the night and becoming pure oneshould drink cow's urine in the night. The doer of the vowshould lie on the (bare) floor in the night and worship (lord) Sankara (Śiva). (Oneshould worship) lord Sambhu (Śiva) in (the month of) pausa (January-February) after taking ghee lord Maheśvara (the great lord, Siva) in (the month of) māgha (February-March) (taking) milk and lord Mahadeva (the great god, Siva) in (the month of) phālguna (March-April) after fasting and taking sesamum. Oneshould worship lord Sthāņu (firm as the pillar, Siva) in (the month of) chaitra (April-May) taking barley and lord Siva in (the month of) vaišākha (May-June) taking water with kuśa and lord Pasupati (lord of the flock) in (the month of) jyaistha (June-July) taking srungodaka. One (should worship) lord Ugra (the fierce, a form of Siva) in (the month of) āṣādha (July-August) eating cow-dung, (lord) Sarva (a form of Siva) in (the month of) Śrāvaņa (August-September) eating the arka (the sun-plant), lord Tryambaka (three-eyed) in (the month of) bhädrapada (September-October) eating bilva leaf in the night, lord Isha (a form of Siva) in (the month of)āsvayuji (October-November) eating rice and lord Rudra in (the month of) kårttika (November-December) taking curd. Oblationsshould be made and worshipshould be offered in a circle at the end of the year. Cow, clothes and goldshould be given to the preceptor. After having requested the brahmins thus and after feeding them one would get enjoyment and emancipation. Oneshould eat only in the night on the eight lunar days. One who gives a cow at the end of the year would get the place of Indra (the lord of celestials). Svargativrata (the vow that conveys one to heaven) is described. When the eight lunar day (falls) on a Wednesday in both fortnights, then the vowshould be practised. Otherwise one who eats (food) with molasses and observes discipline on that (day) would never have his fortune affected. 

11-12. Eight times fist full of rice less the quantity that would. rest on two fingersshould be cooked and kept on mango leaves knit together and spread on the kusa and (the goddess) Ambikā with her retinue and benevolent attendantsshould be worshipped. (The food)should then be eaten while the anecdotes (relating to the goddess) are being heard. Feesshould be paid according to one's means. (Oneshould also give) karkați (a sort of cucumber) together with rice. 

13-23. (The following is the anecdote related to the vow): 

(There was) a brahmin (by name) Dhira. His wife (was) Rambhå, son Kausika and daughter Vijaya. The bestower of wealth for that Dhïra was a bull. Kausika took that and was grazing it in the company of cowherds. When he was bathing in the river Ganges, the bull was driven away by thieves. After bathing and not finding the bull he started searching for that in the company of his sister Vijaya. He then found a group of divine damsels in a tank and asked them to give (him) food. The group of damsels told him “You do the vow and hence (be) our guest and cat”. (Accordingly) after performing the vow he ate (the food) and got (the position of) the guardianship of the forest. He then came to Dhira with the bull and Vijayā. Vijaya was given by Dhira to the God of Death and the father died (afterwards). On account of the merits of the vow Kausika became the king of Ayodhya. Seeing the parents in hell Vijayā (felt) grief-stricken.she went to the God of Death (and) implored him toshow them mercy). (Finding Dhira) come for hunting (the next day)she asked him how he got freed from hell. The God of Death said that it was after getting the two vows which Kausika had given. The two parents reached heaven as a fruit of thc two eight lunar days on Wednesday. Vijaya rejoiced and practiscd the vow for accomplishing enjoyment and emancipation. Those who drink eight buds of aśhoka in the (asterism) punarvasu in the month of chaitra (April-May) on the eighth lunar day of a white (fortnight) would never get grief. (The following is the prayer made to aśhoka): "O Asoka! Dear to Lord Hara (Siva)! One produced in the month of madhu (January February)! Being tormented by grief I am drinking you. You always make me free from grief. One who worships (divine) mothers in (the month of) chaitra (April-May) on the eighth lunar day would conquer his enemies.