131 - Sacred Rites (Vratas)

Brahma said: 

1-2. On the Ashtami (eighth) day in the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada, the goddesses Durva and Gauri as well as Ganesha and Shiva are to be worshipped with fruits, grains and flowers reciting the mantra-"Obeisance to Shambhu and Shiva. O Durva, thou art of immortal birth." Only raw food, not cooked in fire, shall be taken by the devotee. He shall attain everything he desires. 

Thus, Durvashtami is explained: 

3. On the eighth day in the dark half mingled with Rohini star Lord Hari is to be worshipped. Even if the seventh phase of the moon remains in the earlier part of the day, there is no objection. This Vrata dispels the sin of three births. 

4. The devotee shall observe fast and pray thus "Obeisance obeisance to Govinda, the lord of Yoga and Yoga itself." The Parana is to be had when both the Tithi (lunar day) and the star come to a close. 

5. The mantra for ceremonial bath is this—"Obeisance, obeisance unto Govinda the god of sacrifices, the lord of sacrifices, the outcome of sacrifices, nay the sacrifice itself." The mantra for worship is as follows: - "Obeisance, obeisance unto Govinda, the god of the universe, the lord of the universe, nay the universe itself" 

6. The mantra for laying the deity to sleep is-- "obeisance, obeisance to Govinda, the outcome of all, the god of all, the mountain, the All." The lord is to be worshipped on the bare ground. So also, the star Rohini accompanied by the moon, 

7. The devotee shall take the holy water in the conch shell along with flowers, fruits and sandal paste, kneel on the ground and give Arghya to the moon. 

8. O moon God! born of the milky ocean, originating from the eyes of sage Atri, be pleased to accept this Arghya of mine along with Thy consort Rohini. 

9. Similar Arghya offerings shall be made to goddess Shri, Yashoda, Nanda, Vasudeva and Bala, with offerings of fruits. 

10-16. The following names of the lord shall be repeat ed :-Anagha (sinless) Vamana (the dwarf) Shauri, Vaikuntha, Purushottama (best of man), Vasudeva, Hrushikesha, Madhava (consort of Lakshmi) Madhusudana (slayer of the demon Madhu) Varaha (the divine Boat), Pundarikaksha, (the lotus-eyed), Nrusimha (the manlion), Daityasudana (destroyer of demons), Damodara, Padmanabha, Keshava, Garudadhvaja, Govinda, Achyuta, Ananta Deva (Deathless deity) Aparajita (the undefeated), Adhokshaja, Jagadbija (the seed of the universe) Sargasthityantakaranam (the cause of creation, sustenance and dissolution) Anadinidhana (having neither the beginning nor death), Vishnu, Trilokesha (lord of the three worlds), Trivikrama Narayana, Chaturbahu (four-armed), Shankha chakra gadadhara, Pitambaradhara (wearing yellow garments) Divya (the divine) Vanamalavibhushita (bedecked with the garlands of wild flowers), Shrivatsanka (having the natural mark on the chest named Shrivatsa), Jagaddhama, (the support of the universe), Shripati, Shridhara, Hari. After repeating these names, the devotee shall pray thus: -Obeisance unto the deity in the form of Brahman whom Vasudeva begot of Devaki for the protection of the entire earth. 

17. O Lord of lords Hari, save me from the ocean of existence. O destroyer of all sins, save me from the ocean of miseries and sorrow, O Lord! 

18-21. O Lord of Shri, son of Devaki, Hari, Vishnu, thou art reputed to be the saviour of even wicked persons who remember Thee but once. O lord, I am the most wicked of all wicked persons, save me from the ocean of sorrow. O Pushkaraksha (lotus-eyed), I am deeply immersed in the ocean of ignorance. O God of gods, save me. Save thee there is no other protector. Obeisance unto the self-born Vasudeva, the benefactor of cows and brahmins and the whole universe. Obeisance, obeisance to Krishna, Govinda. Let there be peace. Let there be welfare. Let me be the possessor of wealth, fame, and a vast realm.