Pāraṇa
Pāraṇa, “completion of a vow”
Grammar: neuter noun, from the root pṛ (to bring across): carrying a thing through to its end.
Meaning: the completion of a vrata or of one period of it; the text glosses it as samāpti (completion).
In the scriptures: Pulastya Maharshi teaches Nārada the Kālāshṭamī vrata to Bhagavān Śiva. The kṛshṇa ashṭamī of Śrāvaṇa joined with the nakshatra Mṛgaśirā is called Kālāshṭamī; on that tithi Śaṅkara sleeps in all liṅgas. The vrata runs for a year, with a bath, flowers, dhūpa, naivedya and dakshiṇā for each month. After Śrāvaṇa, Āśvayuja, Kārtika, Mārgaśīrsha, Pushya and Māgha comes the pāraṇa of the first six months. At the end of the pāraṇa one properly bathes Trilocana, worships the Svāmī, touching him with a mixture of gorocana and jaggery, and makes the ātma-nivedana (the offering of oneself): “Īśvara! Be gracious to this poor one. Destroy all my sorrows and pains!”
The vrata goes on from Phālguna to the closing Śrāvaṇa: “In this way, for another six months, the pāraṇa of the vrata should be done.” One who worships Vṛshabhaketana thus for a year attains endless desires; Maheśvara himself has declared it, and the vrata grants imperishability (akshayatva) in every way (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 17).
Related terms: Vrata · Kālāshṭamī · Ātma-nivedana · Upavāsa
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 17