18 - The Holy Observance Pertaining to Lakşhmi-Nārāyana

Lakshmi-Narayana-Vrata: 

This Vrata is different from that given in CC. Vrata. II.164 and also other about 38 Purnima vratas given therein (pp.160-245). The Vrata-raja also is silent about this. This vrata is to be observed from the Full Moon day in the month of Margashirsha ending it on the Full moon day of Karttika, --Thus completing one full year i.e., 12 Pūrnimas. The Vrata can be undertaken even by women and Shudras.

Sanaka said: 

1. O excellent sage, listen. I shall tell you another holy observance that removes all sins, destroys all miseries and is very sacred and meritorious. 

2. It bestows all desired objects to the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras and the women folk. It yields the benefits of all other holy rites. 

3. It is conducive to righteousness; it destroys bad effects of evil dreams; it wards off (the influence of) evil planets. It is the excellent Purnima Vrata (observance of the full Moon day), well-known in all worlds. If it is performed, a ten million heaps of accumulated sins perish. 

4. On the full moon day, in the bright half of the month of Margashirsha, the devotee should, after duly washing the teeth, perform the rite of ablution according to the prescribed procedure, and be self-restrained and pure. 

5-6. He should return home and wear pure and white garments. With restrained speech (i.e., silence), he should wash the feet and sip water as Achamana. Remembering Lord Narayana, he should perform his usual daily worship of gods. He should, thereupon, worship Lord Lakşhmi-Nārāyaṇa devoutly with the solemn vow. 

7. The performer of this Vrata (observance) should devoutly worship saying, “Obeisance to Narayana”. After invoking the deity and offering him a seat, etc., he should worship the Lord with scents, fragrant flowers, etc. with full concentrated mind. 

8. The observer of the holy rite should propitiate the Lord with songs, musical instruments, dances, hymns, readings of Puranas, etc. also. 

9. The devotee should make a raised platform of an Aratni (about 45 cms.) square, in front of the Lord and place fire thereon, in accordance with the rules laid down in Gruhya Sūtras. Repeating the Purusha sukta upto Ajya hymns he should propitiate the Lord by performing the Homa with ghee, Charu and sesamum seeds. 

10. In order to dispel all sins he should assiduously perform the Homa once, twice or thrice, according to his capacity. 

11. After completing the Homa duly, in accordance with the injunctions laid down in one’s own Gruhya sutra including all expiatory rites and other rites, the intelligent person should mutter the Shanti sūkta.² 

2. The Santi sukta -

The belief that some calamities or effects of ill omens, bad dreams, evil influences of stars, unprecedental or unnatural happenings, etc., can be prevented or mitigated by the recitation of some Vedic Suktas is found since the later Vedic times and the Sutra period. The following Suktas are regarded as Shanti Suktas, the recital of which is beneficial: 

(1) Ā no bhadrah (RV.I.89.1-10)

(2) Svasti na Indro (RV. I.89.6-10)

(3) Sham na Indrägni (RV.VIII.35.1-11) This is regarded as Shantikadhyâya (Mt.P.274.56).

(4) Yata Indra bhayāmahe (RV.VIII.61.13-18).

(5) Bhadram no api våtaya manaḥ (RV.X.20.1)

(6) Ashuḥ shišhano (RV.X.103.1-13).

(7) Muñchāmi två (RV.X.161.1-5).

(8) Tyam-u shu (RV.X.178-1-3).

(9) Mahi trinam (RV.X.185-1-3).

(10) Rätri Vyakhyat (RV.X.127.1-8).

A reference to Bloomfield's Vedic Concordance shows that these verses are repeated in other Vedic texts like TS., AV. etc. 

The belief in the auspicious and protective effects of recital of holy texts is found in Buddhists of Lanka and countries of the South East Asia. There are 30 such suttas such as Maha mangala sutta, Metti sutta, Dasa-dhamma sutta and others in Pali Sutta Pitaka and they are used for similar purpose as the Vedic Suktas in Brahmanism. These suttas are called Parittas ‘Protectors’ and they are the most popular in Burma (M. Bode The Pali Literature of Burma, pp. 3-4).

12. Afterwards he should approach the deity and perform the worship again. With piety, he should dedicate the observance of the fast unto the Lord. 

13. Observing fast on the full moon day, he should pray “O Lotus-eyed God, I shall partake of food, the next day. Be pleased to be my refuge.” 

14. After submitting thus to the Lord, the devotee should take white flowers and raw rice grains in his hand, kneel on the ground and offer Arghya to the Moon 

15-16. “O lord of Rohiņi, born in the family of Atri, and in the milk ocean (as well), (kindly) accept the Arghya offered by me, O Lord.” After offering Arghya thus to the moon, he should stand facing the east. Looking at the moon with palms joined in reverence, he should pray thus. 

17. “Obeisance to you, of white rays; salutations to you to the lord of the stars, and to the lord of Rohiņi; obeisance be to you, to the brother of Lakshmi.” 

18. Thereafter, he should keep awake during the night by listening to the Puranas and other pious activities. He should control his sense-organs and be pure. He should avoid the very sight of heretics. 

19. Thereafter, he should perform the routine and conventional duties in the morning, in accordance with the prescribed injunctions. Again, he should perform the worship of the Lord befitting the extent of his riches. 

20. He should feed the Brahmanas according to his capacity. With purity and restrained speech (silence), the man should take food along with kinsmen and servants as well as others. 

21. In the same manner, he should observe fast on the full moon days of Pausha and other months and with due devotion should worship the infallible Lord Narayana. 

22. Performing thus for one year, he should perform the ritualistic concluding ceremony on the full moon day in the month of Karttika. I shall tell you the procedure for the same. 

23. He should construct an exquisite pavilion (Mandapa) extremely auspicious in nature and square in shape, beautified with flower garlands and shining with a canopy and a row of banners. 

24. Many lamps and tinkling bells should brighten its splendour. It should be decorated on all sides with mirrors, chowries and water-pots all round. 

25. O Brahmana, in the middle, there should be a Sarvato-Bhadra shining with five colours. Thereon the devotee should place a jar full of water. 

26. The jar should be covered with a cloth of very fine texture. O Brahmana, an image of lord Lakshmi-Narayana should be made in gold, silver or copper and placed over it. 

27-28. The image should be bathed in Pañchāmruta and worshipped in the serial order, by scents, etc., and food offerings of various kinds. With due devotion and restraint over the sense-organs, he should keep awake during the night with due faith. On the morning of the next day, he should worship Vishnu as per procedure prescribed for it. 

29. The image should be presented to the preceptor accompanied by the usual Dakshina. He should feed the Brahmanas in accordance with his capacity. If one is affluent enough one should feed the Brahmanas unobstructedly without any restriction on their number. 

30. With proper attention and purity of mind, he should perform the Dana of sesamum seeds befitting his capacity. The clever devotee should perform Homa rites in the fire duly, with sesamum seeds. 

31-32. If a man performs this holy vow--vrata properly, he will enjoy all pleasures here in the company of his sons and grandsons. He will be liberated from his sins. Accompanied by ten thousand members of his family, he will go to Vishnu’s abode, difficult of access even to the Yogins.