22-Other Vrat and Fasts
8-Agni Puraan, Ch 195-200, p 380-385
See also a section on Day Vrat
Maas Vrat in Vrat-Festivals
Description of other Vrat and Fasts - in various Nakshatra, on Vaar, about days and months etc
Other Vrat and Fasts
Agni Dev said - "Vashishth Jee, Now I will tell you about other Vrat done on
various Vaars, in various Nakshatras, day fasts and months fasts
Vrat on Various Vaars
"Sunday with Hast Nakshatra or Punarvasu Nakshatra" - Take bath
with all-herbs (Kapoor Kacharee, Bach, Kooth, Shilaajit, whole Haldee, Daaru Haldee,
Kachoor, Champaa, Mothaa) water. Vratee of this fast never gets sick even in next7
lives.
"Sunday with Sankraanti" - If there is Sunday on any Sankraanti, it
is called holy "Aaditya-Hridaya"; on that day or on Sunday with Hast Nakshatra,
by keeping Nakt Vrat for 1 year, a Vratee gets everything.
"Tuesday with Swaati Nakshatra" - Start the Vrat on Tuesday with Swaati
Nakshatra and do such Nakt Vrat for 7 Tuesdays; thus Vratee gets freed from all sorrows.
"Wednesday with Vishaakhaa Nakshatra" - By starting Nakt Vrat on such
Wednesday, and then doing it for 7 consecutive Wednesdays Vratee gets freed from all Budh
(Mercury) planet's sorrows.
"Thursday with Anuraadhaa Nakshatra" - By starting Nakt Vrat on such
Thursday, and then doing it for 7 consecutive Thursdays a Vratee gets freed from all
Brihaspati (Guru or Jupiter) planet's sorrows.
"Friday with Jyeshthaa Nakshatra" - By starting Nakt Vrat on such Friday,
and doing it for 7 consecutive Fridays, a Vratee gets freed from all Shukra (Venus) planet's
sorrows.
"Saturday with Mool Nakshatra" - By starting Nakt Vrat on such Saturday,
and doing it for 7 consecutive Saturdays, a Vratee gets freed from all Shani (Saturn)
planet's sorrows.
Nakshatra Related Vrat
Worship in specific Nakshatra fulfils many kinds of wishes. First of all one should
worship Nakshatra-Purush Hari in Chaitra Maas. In Mool Nakshatra worship His lotus
feet; in Rohinee Nakshatra His thighs; in Krittiaa Nakshatra His waist; in Anuraadhaa
Nakshatra His breasts; in Vishaakhaa Nakshatra His both arms etc.
"Anant Vrat" - Maargsheersh Maas, at the time of Mrigshiraa Nakshatra, do
Praashan of cow's urine and do Hari's worship. Ananat Bhagavaan doesn't even give
eternal fruit of worship, but also he gives eternal Punya in further lives. This Vrat
collects lots of Punya. On this day worship lotus feet of Ananat Bhagavaan, and eat
oil-less food in the night. Do Havan for Ananat in Maargsheersh to Phaalgun with Ghee;
in Chaitra to Aashaadh with Agahanee rice; and in Shraavan to Kaartik with milk.
Yuvanaashwa got Maandhaataa as a son because of this Vrat.
Day Related Vrat
"Dhenu Vrat" - Who donates cow with two mouths with gold and keeps one
day fast with drinking milk only, he attains Parampad.
"Kalp Vriksh Vrat" - By donating a gold Kalp Vriksh and keeping 3 days
milk fast, Vratee attains Brahmpad.
If somebody keeps fast only in the daytime, he attains Rudra Lok.
"Tri-Raatra Vrat" - Who keeps fast 3 Ek-Bhukt or Nakt Vrat in a month,
he attains Saayujya of Ganesh Jee.
"Tri-Raatra Vrat" - Who does this Vrat by worshipping Janaardan, he
goes to Vaikunth Dhaam with his 100 generations. Vratee should start this Vrat from
Maargsheersh Shukla 9th properly. Do Jaap of "Aum Namo Bhagavatey Vaasudevaaya"
Mantra 100 times or 1,000 times. Eat Ek-Bhukt (eating only once in the daytime) on 9th,
10th and 11th. And worship Vishnu on Dwaadashee. Then feed Braahman and donate them bed,
clothes, umbrella, Yagyopaveet etc and pray that if there has been any mistake in the
Vrat, it should be corrected by their grace. Whoever does this Vrat he attains everything
in this world and goes to Vishnu Dhaam after death.
"Kaartik Vrat" - After doing Praashan of Panchgavya on Dashamee, one should
keep fast on Ekaadashee. If it is done on Kaartik Shukla 12th, the Vratee becomes Devtaa who
can wander in Vimaan.
"Tri-Raatra Vrat" - Who does Tri-Raatra Vrat, Nakt Vrat, in Chaitra month
and donates 5 goats at the end of the Vrat, he gets all kinds of comforts.
"Maahendra Krichchhra Vrat" - Who, starting from Kaartik Shukla 6th, drink
milk for 3 days and then keep fast for 3 days, he observes Maahendra Krichchhra Vrat.
"Bhaaskar Krichchhra or Panch Raatra Vrat" - Starting from Kaartik Shukla
11th one should eat thus for 5 days - milk, yogurt, then keep fast for 3 days.
"Saantapan Krichchhra Vrat" - Start it from Kaartik Shukla 5th and eat -
barley Lapasee, vegetables, yogurt, milk, Ghee, and water, in this order, for the next 6
days.
Month Related Vrat
--Whichever Chaaturmasya (4 month period) starts from Aashaadh (Ashaadh, Shraavan, Bhaadrapad
and Aashwin), one should not massage oil, nor use Ubatan on his body. This gives a man good
Buddhi.
"Bheem Vrat" - Who leaves even flowers for food in Vaishaakh Maas and donate a cow,
he becomes like Vishnu.
--Whichever Chaaturmaasya starts from Ashaadh Maas (Ashaadh, Shraavan, Bhaadrapad and Aashwin),
he who takes bath daily and regularly in the morning, he attains Vishnu Lok.
"Gud Vrat" - Donate jaggery-cow on Maagh or Chaitra Maas 3rd. Who does that he becomes
like Shiv.
--Who keeps Nakt Vrat or Ek-Bhukt Vrat in Maargsheersh etc months, attains Vishnu Lok.
--Who keeps Ek-Bhukt Vrat, he should keep Dwadashee Vrat separately.
--Who leaves to est fruits in Chaaturmaasya period, he should donate fruits.
--Whoever does Chaaturmaasya Vrat starting from Shraavan Maas, he attains everything.
-----One should do Chaaturmaasya Vrat like this - keep fast on Aashaadh Shukla 11th; worship
Hari on Kark (Cancer) Sankraanti fallen in Aashaadh Maas and pray "Hey Keshav, I have
taken up this Vrat, be pleased with me and help me finish it without any obstacles. If I die
during this Vrat then by your grace it should be considered as complete." In this Vrat,
Vratee should leave meat etc forbidden food and oil and do Bhajan of Shree Hari.
--Who keeps "Tri-Raatra Vrat" by keeping fast on alternate days (for three
days), he goes to Vishnu Lok.
--Who does "Chaandraayan Vrat" (see no 5, 6, 7),
he attains Vishnu Lok.
--Who does "Maun Vrat", he attains Moksh.
--Who does "Praajaapatya Vrat" (see no 14),
he goes to Swarg Lok.
--Who observes Krichchhra Vrat by eating Sattoo and barley, drinking milk,
or by taking Panchgavya and water, he goes to Swarg.
--Who completes Krichchhra Vrat by eating barley, he attains closeness of Hari.
"Kaumud Vrat" - Keep fast on Aashwin Shukla 11th, worship Vishnu on Dwaadashee with
flowers, sesame seed oil lamp and Ghee mixed Naivedya. End the Vrat with "Aum Namo
Vaasudevaaya" Mantra. Who does this Kaumud Vrat, he attains all Dharm, Arth, Kaam and
Moksh.
Season, Year and Month Related Vrat
"Agni Vrat" - Who donates firewood in Rainy, Sharad, Hemant and
Shishir seasons and in the end donates cow, he becomes Braahman in his next life.
"Saaraswat Vrat" - Who keeps silence at the time of Sandhyaa for 1
month, and then at the end donates Ghee pot, sesame seeds, bell, and clothes, he
lives happily.
--Who takes bath with Panchaamrit daily for 1 year, and donates a cow in the end, he
becomes a king.
--Keep Nakt Vrat on Chaitra 11th, and after the month ends, donate a golden statue of
Vishnu to Braahman, he attains Vishnu Pad.
"Devee Vrat" - Who eats Kheer for 1 year, then donates 2 cows becomes
very rich.
--Who eats food after offering to his Pitar, he attains kingdom.
Sankraanti Vrat
--Who wakes in the night on Sankraanti day, he attains Swarg Lok.
--If a Sankraanti falls on Amaavasyaa Tithi, the worship Soorya and Shiv, it gives
one Swarg.
--On Makar Sankranti (14th Jan), one should worship Keshav after taking bath early
in the morning. By donating 32 Pal gold in Udyaapan, one becomes free from all sins.
--One should bathe Shree Hari with Ghee mixed milk in Vishuv etc
Yog.
--For women, "Umaa Vrat" gives Lakshmee.
--They should worship Gauree Shankar on 3rd and 8th Tithis. Thus they get unbroken
Saubhaagya and she never suffers with the separation from their husbands.
--Whichever woman keeps "Mool Vrat" and "Umesh Vrat" and devotion in
Soorya Bhagavaan, she is definitely born as a man in next life.
Deep (Lamp) Daan and Story of Lalitaa
--Who lights a lamp in a Mandir (Temple) or in a Braahman's house for 1 year, he
gets everything.
--Who donates Deep in Chaaturmaasya period (Aashaadh-Maargsheersh), attains Vishnu Lok.
--Who donates Deep in Kaartik Maas, he attains Swarg.
There never was, never is and never will be any Vrat greater than Deep Daan. It increases
the age and good eye sight, wealth and sons. Because of Deep Daan Vidarbh Desh Princess
Lalitaa became the wife of King Chaarudharmaa and became the chief queen among his 100
wives. Once she donated 1,000 Deep in a Vishnu temple. At this her co-wives asked the
importance of this Deep Daan. She said --
"Long time ago, there lived a Maileya named Purohit in Sauveer Raaj's kingdom. He
built a temple of Vishnu on the banks of Devikaa River. He donated Deep in Kaarttik Maas.
A mice was coming running from the fear of a cat. She forwarded the wick of the lamp by
chance in fear. The Deep got lighted more brightly. After she died she was born as a
princess and became the Chief Queen of the King Chaarudharmaa among his 100 wives. Thus
I am enjoying the fruit of that "forwarding the wick by chance only". That is
why I have the remembrance of my previous birth. That is why I always do Deep Daan.
--Who donates Deep on Ekaadashee, he goes to Swarg.
--Who takes away Deep from a temple, he becomes dumb or fool. He certainly falls in Narak.
Lalitaa's co-wives
became so impressed with this story, that they also started Deep Daan and attained Swarg.