Agni Purāṇa

195 - Vows relating to the week-days

Agni said:

1-5. Ishall describe vows relating to the week-days that would confer enjoyment and emancipation. (The asterism) punarvasu on the Sunday is the hand (of Sun). Bathing with all herbs is auspicious (on that day). One who performs the ancestral rite on a Sunday would be free from disease for seven births. A Sunday (occurring) on the sankranti (Sun's entry from one constellation into another) is the auspicious heart of the Sun. One who eats in the night on a Sunday (occurring) in (the asterism hasta) for a year would get everything. One who practises a vow on Mondays (occurring) in (the asterism) chiträ seven times would be happy. One who undertakes to do the vow of eating only in the night on a Tuesday (occurring) in (the asterism) sväti seven times would be free from difficulties. One who takes the vow of eating only in the night on Wednesday (occurring) in (the asterism) višakhā seven times would get rid of afflictions due to planets. One who cats only in the night on Thursday in (the asterism) anurddha seven times would destroy all afflictions due to planets. One who undertakes to practise eating only on Friday in (the asterism jyestha for seven nights would get rid of all afflictions due to planets. One who resolves to practise eating only seven nights on Saturday in the asterism müla would destroy all afflictions due to planets.

Summary of chapter 195 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

Vratas assigned to each day of the week and their connection with graha-śānti are described. For Sūrya on Sunday, bathing with sarvauṣadhi when the Hasta or Punarvasu nakṣatra falls on that day is prescribed; on Saṃkrānti-Sūrya-vāra, the recitation of Ādityahṛdayam is recommended. Soma-vāra (Monday) vratas are performed when the Citrā nakṣatra falls on Monday, observed seven times. Maṅgala-vāra (Tuesday) calls for seven nakta-vratas when Svātī nakṣatra falls on Tuesday. The Budha-vāra, Guru-vāra, Śukra-vāra, and Śani-vāra vratas are similarly linked to Viśākhā, Anurādhā, Jyeṣṭhā, and Mūla nakṣatras respectively, each capable of pacifying the corresponding planet's adverse effects.