61 - Kämavrata

Agastya said:

1-2. O king, listen to me. I shall tell you now about Kämavrata by which whatever pleasure is desired is obtained by anyone who performs it on the day Shashthi eating only fruit.

34. On Pañchami day in the bright half of the month of one should take meal, but on Shashthi only fruit and afterwards silently pure rice in the company of other Brahmins. Or (even on that day) he may take fruit alone and on the Saptamï day have (the usual) meal.

5. Homa also should be performed after worshipping Vishnu as Guha (Skanda) in the prescribed manner. This should be done for one year.

6. The worship of Vishnu should be in his names as Shadvaktra (six-faced), Kärttikeya (son of Kruttikä), Senänï (commander), Kumara and Skanda.

7. At the close of the vrata, Brahmins should be fed and a golden image of Skanda should be gifted to one of them, saying.

8. “O lord Kumära, may all my wishes be accomplished by your mercy due to my devotion. O Brahmin, receive it soon”

9. When this (image) is given to the Brahmin along with the clothes the desires of the worshipper begin to get fulfilled in this life itself.

10. A sonless man gets a son, a needy man gets money, the deposed king regains kingdom. There need be no doubt in this matter.

11. In days of yore, this vrata was performed by Nala when he was living (in servitude) in Rutuparna’s capital.

12. Similarly by several other deposed kings was this vrata observed to succeed (in regaining kingdom).

Summary of chapter 61 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:

The narrative recounts the history of the water-born demon Jalodbhava, who resided within a vast lake in the valley of Kashmīra and was immune to attack while submerged in water. Jalodbhava emerged periodically to devastate surrounding hermitages and consume sages and pilgrims, leaving the region desolate. Maharshi Kaśyapa performed intense austerities to invoke Bhagavān Vishṇu and Parameśvara Śiva, who cut open the surrounding mountains with a divine plow, drained the lake, and exposed Jalodbhava, allowing Bhagavān Vishṇu to slay the demon with His discus and establish Kashmīra as a holy land of learning and pilgrimage.