137 - Sacred Rites (Vratas) 

Brahma said: 

1. The worship of the favourite God on the thirteenth day called Kamadevatrayodashi with Madana flowers, etc. bestows sexual pleasure, freedom from sorrow and all due respect from everyone. 

Thus, Madanatrayodashi is explained. 

2. The devotee shall observe fast on the fourteenth day in the bright half and on the eighth day in the dark half for a whole year and worship Shiva. He shall enjoy all worldly pleasures. 

Thus, Chaturdashyashtami Vrata is explained. 

3. In the month of Karttika the devotee shall observe fast for three days and make a gift of an excellent house. He shall attain the region of the sun. This excellent Vrata is called Dhamavrata. 

4. On the new moon day if one offers libations of water to the Manes it has immense benefit. If one worships in water in the names of the days of the week (with their presiding deities) taking food only in the night, one shall attain everything. 

Thus, Varavratas have been explained. 

5. The devotee shall worship well Lord Achyuta in the name of the twelve stars in the twelve months in accordance with the name). 

6. Keshava is worshipped in the month of Margashirsha. This worship can be the inaugural one or in the month of Karttika. For the four months of the Chaturmasa period homa is offered with butter. The Naivedya is Krusara (gingelly seeds rounded into balls with treacle). 

7. The naivedya in Ashadha, etc. is milk pudding. The brahmins too are to be fed on this. The bath is in Panchagavya water. The remnant of naivedya constitutes the night food of the devotee. 

8. Before Visarjana (the ceremonial dismissal) all usual materials can be used as Naivedya. When Jagannatha is formally discharged that becomes Nirmalya (remnant of the offerings). 

9. All devotees during the Pancharatra (five nights) take naivedya. Thus, the Puja shall be continued for a year with special rites. 

10. The prayer-Obeisance, obeisance unto Thee, O Achyuta, let the sins be destroyed; let the Punya (merit) flourish. Let prosperity be everlasting. Let my family flourish. 

11. O Achyuta, just as Thou art beyond the greatest, Brahman the Supreme, O destroyer of sins, O the unknowable, make my desire too undegraded; make my actions undegraded. 

12. O Achyuta, O Ananda, O Govinda, O Purushottama, let my desire be of everlasting benefit. Make it so O, Unknowable!" 

13-14. If this Vrata is performed for seven years the devotee obtains longevity, prosperity and the goal of the good. Observing fast on the eleventh, eighth, fourteenth and seventh days for a year and worshipping Vishnu, Durga, Shambhu, and Ravi (sun) in the order, the devotee attains their respective regions. He becomes pure and gets everything he desires. 

15 By taking a single morsel, by taking food received unsolicited at night, by fasting or by taking only vegetables all deities can be worshipped in all the Tithis. The devotee shall attain worldly pleasures and salvation. 

16-19, Kubera, Agni and the two Ashvini gods are to be worshipped on the first day. Shri and Yama on the second; Parvati and Sri on the fifth; Nagas and Karttikeya on the sixth, the sun on the seventh; Durga and Mothers on the eighth; Takshaka on the Ninth; Indra and Kubera on the tenth; the sages on the eleventh; Hari on the twelfth; Kama and Maheshvara on the thirteenth; Brahma on the fourteenth and the manes on New Moon and Full moon.