22 - The Masopavasa Vrata (Fast for a month)

Masopavasa Vrata 

The observance of fast for a month is the greatest of all Vratas. The Vishnu rahasya as quoted by Hemadri, in CC II, pp. 776-783 states that “The merit that accrues from observing all Vratas, from ablutions in all sacred waters, from all religious gifts and performance of all sacrifices like Agnishtoma and others with rich sacrificial fees, is gained by this másopavasa (Fast for one month). Before undertaking it, one should have performed all the Vaisnava Vratas like Dvadashi and other difficult penances like Ati-Krucchra, Chandrayana and others. 

The NP., in its enthusiasm for extolling this Vrata commends even thirteen such fasts without taking into account the physical capacity of a human being to undergo sustained continuous fasting. The Vishnurahasya, however, wants to save the life of the observer of this Vrata first. 

amrutam påyayet kşhīram...yatheha na viyujyet pränaiḥ

Kshut-pidito Vrati |

God Brahma further ordains that when the observer of the Vrata faints or is very weak or in danger of life, he should be given milk, fruit juice, etc. and such in-take does not nullify or adversely affect the Vrata-- 

evam mäsopavåsastham årüdham präna-samshaye

avrataghna-gunair divyaiḥ paripsed Brahmanajñaya |

naite vratam vinighnanti |

This was such a popular Vrata that it is eulogised in AP. 204-1-18, GP.I.122. 1-7, Pd.P. VI.121.15-54. Though the main outline of the Vrata is practically the same in all Puranas, there are slight differences. Thus A P. prescribes its commencement on the 11th day in the bright half of Ashvina, but NP. states that it should be undertaken in Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada or Ashvina (I.22.2-3). The remaining procedure: To sip Panchagavya, sleep in the vicinity of the Vishnu image, svasti-vachana, Sankalpa (declaration of undertaking the vow) and prayer to god Vishnu to help the observer to complete the vow, offering worship to Vishnu three times with Pañchāmruta every day, stay in Vishnu’s shrine, to observe complete purity in word and deed, feeding thirteen Brahmanas at the time of Parana, giving a bed-stead to one's preceptor, etc.— all is common in these texts. 

This Vrata is also called paráka (see vv.15, 23 below). 

This Vrata was observed even in ancient times. Inscriptions in Naneghat of the 2nd cent. B.C. records that queen Nayanika had observed it.

Sanaka said: 

1. I shall describe another excellent Vrata which is destructive of all sins, meritorious and rendering benefitial service to all worlds. Listen to it, attentively. 

2. O Brahmana, one should perform this holy observance in the month of Ashadha or Shravana or Bhadrapada or Ashvina. 

3. In one of these months, during the bright half, the devotee who has subdued his sense-organs, should take in Panchagavya and sleep in the vicinity of Vishnu. 

4. Getting up early in the morning and finishing the daily routine tasks, he should worship Vishnu with due faith and full control of his sense-organs, eschewing all forms of anger. 

5. In the company of learned man, he should worship Vishnu in the proper manner. Thereafter, after invoking the blessings by the recital of Svasti-sukta (RV.V.51.11-15), in the specific religious rite, he should perform the rite of Sankalpa (revelation of intention). 

6. O Keshava, from this day onwards, I shall observe fast for a month. I shall perform Paraná (breaking the fast) rite at the end of the month, O Lord of Devas, at thy behast. 

7. Obeisance to thee, O embodiment of penance, O bestower of the benefit of austerities. Bestow what fulfils my desires. Ward off all obstacles. 

8. After dedicating thus, the splendid Masa Vrata (i.e., Masopavasa) to Lord Vishnu, he should stay in the shrine of Hari, till the end of the month. 

9. Every day he should bathe the Lord in Pañchāmruta in accordance with the injunctions. During that month he should continuously retain the light of the lamps in the shrine of Hari. 

10. Everyday he should chew the tooth-brush twig taken from the Apamarga plant (Aghada in Marathi). Then he should take his bath as per prescribed injunctions and be devoted to Narayana duly. 

11. Thereafter, he should bathe the Vishnu image as before. Exerting himself as described before, he should worship the Lord. Endowed with piety, he should feed the Brahmanas according to his capacity and offer the usual Dakshina. 

12. With his sense-organs under proper control, he should take food along with his kinsmen. Thus, the performer of the Vrata should complete thirteen monthly fasts. 

13. At the end of the year, he should make the charitable gift of a cow along with the usual Dakshina, to a Vedic scholar. Therein, he should feed twelve Brahmanas in accordance with the injunctions. He should offer Dakshinas according to his ability. Ornaments also should be given to the Brahmana lady. 

14. He who performs three-monthly fasts with full restraint on the sense-organs attains twice the benefit of “Aptor-yama” sacrifice (a Soma sacrifice). 

15. O excellent sage, if four times the monthly fasts are performed successfully to their concluding break-fasts called a * Paraka2, he shall attain the great merit usually derived from eight Agnishtoma sacrifices.

*A misprint for Paraka. Bruhan-Naradiya XX.19 has the following verse on this topic (the same as in NP.) chatuh-krutvaḥ krutam yena parakam muni-sattama / sa labhet Paranam punyam agnishtomashta-sambhavam //

2. Paráka 

It is a misprint for Paráka, A kind of observance or penance-It consists of fast for twelve days (dvādasháhopavåsena parakaḥ—GP.) or dvådashāham abhojanam Parako nama Krucchro'yam / 

(Manu XI.215).

Bruhan-Naradiya XX also deals with Mäsopavāsa-Vrata and has the same verses as in NP.XXII. Hence the correction as paráka. 

16. If this Vrata is performed five times by any noble devotee, that man shall attain twice the merit accruing from Atyagnishtoma sacrifice. 

17. He who performs six monthly fasts with great concentration of mind and mental purity attains eight times the benefit of Jyotishtoma sacrifice. 

18. Remaining without food, a person who deserves the vow of monthly fasts, seven times, attains eight times the benefit of a horse-sacrifice (Ashvamedha). 

19. O leading sage, he who performs the monthly fasts eight times, shall attain five times the benefit of sacrifice called Naramedha (Human sacrifice). 

20. The man who performs monthly fasts nine times, derives three times the merit accruing from Gomedha sacrifice (cow sacrifice). 

21. O excellent sage, he who performs the monthly fasts (called) Paraka ten times, enjoys three times the benefit of sacrifice called Brahmamedha. 

22. He who, with controlled sense organs, performs eleven Paråkas attains Sarupya (identity of form) with Hari, along with the enjoyment of all pleasures. 

23. The self-controlled person who performs thirteen Paråkas, attains the greatest bliss after reaching which no one suffers any grief or misery. 

24. Those who are engaged in monthly fasts, those who are devoted to ablutions in the Ganga and those who expound the paths of Dharma are undoubtedly the liberated ones. 

25. The monthly fasts must be observed by women having no husbands and sons, recluses, religious students and particularly by forest-dwellers (hermits).3

3. House-holders are not eligible to undertake this fateful observance. This verse is common to other Puranas and the Vishnu-rahasya. 

In verse 23 below the correct form 'Paráka' is used. 

26. Whether a woman or a man, whosoever observes this excellent Vrata, attains salvation which is difficult to attain even by the Yogins. 

27. On hearing this, everyone, whether he is a householder or a forest-dweller, or an observer of a vow or a mendicant, a fool or a scholar attains salvation. 

28. He who, devoted to Narayana, listens to or reads this meritorious narrative shall be liberated from all sins.