Agni Purāṇa
194 - Details relating to the vows of Ashoka-pūrņima
Agni said:
1-7. Ishall describe the (vow of) Ashokapūrņima. Oneshould worship Bhūdhara (the supporter of the universe) and the earth on the bright fortnight in the month of) phälguna (March-April). One would get the whole year enjoyment and emancipation. After having set free a bull in (the month of) kärttika (November- December) oneshould do the nakta (vrata) (eating food only in the night). One would reach the place of lord Siva. This Vrusha vrata (vow of letting lose the bull) is an excellent one. The offering made to the fore-fathers on the new-moon day relating to the forefathers has undiminishing (benefits). After fasting the whole year and worshipping the forefathers one becomes free from sin and reaches heaven. One who worships the birthless deity (Brahmä) on the fifteenth (lunar day) (new moon) in (the month of) magha (February-March), would get all (things). Ishall describe the new-moon day (known as) the Savitri, that is auspicious and bestows enjoyment and emancipation. A womanshould practise vow on the fifteenth day (new moon) in (the month of) jyestha (June-July) and worship the great chaste woman (Savitri) at the foot of the banyan trec with seven (kinds of) grains after fasting thrce nights. Womenshould deeply embrace the banyan tree (besmearing) with saffron etc. doing dancing and singing in the night and worship (Satyavan and Savitri) in the morning (saying) "Obeisance to Såvitri and Satyavan". The offeringshould be gifted to a brahmin. After reaching the house oneshould feed brahmins and eat oneself and request them to go (saying) "May the goddess Savitri be pleased and let (me) get fortune etc.”
Summary of chapter 194 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
Vratas associated with pūrṇimā (full moon) and amāvāsyā (new moon) tithis are described. On Phālguṇa-śukla-pūrṇimā, Varāha and Bhū-devī are worshipped for one year with a prayer for universal prosperity. Kārtika-pūrṇimā calls for a vṛṣotsarga (release of a bull) followed by a nakta-vrata leading to Śaiva-pada. The Āśvayuja-amāvāsyā is the most potent pitṛ-amāvāsyā: śrāddha performed then yields akṣaya phala and upavāsa with pitṛ-tarpaṇa removes accumulated sin. On Māgha-amāvāsyā, Brahmā is worshipped for the fulfilment of all wishes. The chapter describes in detail the Vata-Sāvitrī-vrata performed by women on Jyeṣṭha-amāvāsyā: a three-day fast, worship of Sāvitrī at the root of the vaṭa tree with saptadhānya and kaṇṭha-sūtra, nṛtya and gīta at dawn, the prayer "namaḥ sāvitryai satyavatī," and culminating in the worship of a brāhmaṇa couple as Satyavān-Sāvitrī.
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