Hindu Fasts: 10th, 11th & 12th Phase Fasts

The Dashami Vratas

Said The God Of Fire:-

Now I shall describe the process of performing the Dashami Vratas, which should be practised on days of the tenth day of the moon's wane or in- crease, and which increase one's piety, etc. The penitent (Vrati) should take a single meal on the above said days. Gifts of ten cows should be made at the close of the Vrata, and remunerations in gold should be given to the Brahmanas; whereby the practiser would become their chief.

The Vratas To Be Performed In Days Of The Eleventh Phase
Said The God Of Fire:-

Now I shall describe the process of practising the Vratas, which should be observed on days of the eleventh phase of the moon's increase or wane, and- which grant enjoyment of good things in life and salvation in the next. The observer of the vow should abstain from taking animal diet and holding sexual intercourse with women, and fast on such days both in the dark and the light fortnight of the month. The god Hari should be deemed as present in the blending of a Dvadashi and an Ekadashi Tithi. A man, by fasting on the occasion of such a blending and breaking his fast on the day of Troyadashi, attains the merit of performing a hundred horse killing sacrifices. Similarly a man by fasting on a day in which the Ekadashi exists for a Kala only after which the Dvadashi sets in, and taking his meals on the day following, ac- quires the same merit as in the preceding case. A man must not fast on a day on which the moon enters her twelfth from her eleventh phase, such a fasting being held as paving one's way to hell. A man having fasted on the day of the eleventh phase of the moon's wane or increase, should take his meals on the day following, by reciting the following prayer.

"I break my fast, oh thou lotus-eyed god, oh thou who knowest no modifications, be thou my help." An Ekadashi occurring in a fight fortnight and marked by the asterism Pushya, is known as the Papanashini (Sin-destroying). By observing a fast on such a Tithi, a man becomes absolved of all sins. An Ekadashi or a Dvadashi marked by the asterism Shravana is known as a Vijaya Tithi, and grants victory to the god's elect. Such an Ekadashi occurring in the month of Phalguna and marked by the asterism Pushya, is also known as a Vijaya Tithi, and is held as possessed of millions and millions of virtues. A man, by worship- ping the god Vishnu on the day of the eleventh phase of the moon's wane or increase, becomes wealthy, begets children, and is graced with a residence in the region of Vishnu after death. Such a worship benefits a man in innumerable ways..

The Vratas To Be Performed Days Of The Twelfth Phase

Said The God Of Fire:-

Now I shall describe the process of performing the Vratas, which should be performed on days of the twelfth phase of the moon's increase or wane (Dvadashi Vrata), and which enable a man to enjoy the good things of the world and to attain salvation after death. The observer of the vow should either fast on the day of its observance, or take a single meal in the course of that day and night, or live on food obtained by begging. In the form known as the Madana Dvadashi, the observer of the vow should worship the god Hari and the god of love, on the day of the twelfth phase of the moon's increase in the month of Chaitra, the effect of such an observance being the acquisition of all wished-for objects in this life and salvation in the next.

The form of the Vrata, known as the Bhima Dvadashi, should be practised on such a Tithi as the above, coming on in the month of Magha. The god Narayana should be worshipped on the occasion, by repeating the Mantra which runs as "Obeisance to Narayana," whereby he would be the happy possessor of all earthly possessions. The form of the vow known as the Govinda Dvadashi, should be practised on a similar Tithi in the month of Phalguna, while the form known as the Vishoka Dvadashi should be practised in the month of Ashvina, on the day of the twelfth phase of the moon's increase, wherein the god Hari should be worshipped. The man, who worships Krishna on such a Tithi as the above in the month of Magha, and makes gifts of salt to the Brahmanas, acquires the merit of making gifts of articles of all taste. In the form known as the Govatsa Dvadashi, calves should be worshipped. The day of the twelfth phase of the moon's wane, coming on after the lapse of the month of Chaitra, is known as the Tila Dvadashi (Dvadashi of the sessamum orientale). The observer of the vow, should bathe with the seeds of sessamum orientale on his head, the Home ceremony should be per- formed with the same article, offerings composed of sessamum, should be made to the god, libations of water containing seeds of sessamum orientale should be offered to the gods and the Pitris, while lighted lamps, containing oil pressed out from the sessamum seeds, should be waived before the divine image. Gifts of sessamum should be made to the Brahmanas, and the observer of the vow will acquire the full merit thereof, by performing the Home ceremony, while fasting. The Mantra with which the worship should be conducted runs as "Om obeisance to the god who is the son of Vasudeva." The man who practises this vow of Til Dvadashi, ascends heaven with the souls of all his friends and relation.

The form known as the Manoratha Dvadashi, should be observed on the day of the twelfth phase of the moon's increase in the month of Phalguna. The man, who worships the god Vishnu, addressing him by such names of his as "Keshava," etc., on each Dvadashi throughout the year, practises the Vrata known as the Nama (name) Dvadashi. The performer of such a Vrata, ascends heaven after death, and is exempted from visiting the hell. The performer of the Vrata, known as the Sumati Dvadashi (the Dvadashi Vrata of good resolution) should worship the god Vishnu, on the day of the twelfth phase of the moon's in- crease in the month of Phalguna. The form known as the Ananta Dvadashi should be performed on such a Tithi as the above, occurring in the month of Bhadra. The performer of the Vrata, known as the Tila Dvadashi, should worship Krishna on the Dvadashi Tithi in the month of Magha, marked by the asterism Ashlesha or Mula and perform the Homa ceremony by casting libations of clarified butter mixed with sessamum orientale into the sacrificial fire, and by repeating the Mantra which runs as "obeisance to Krishna." The performer of the Sugati Dvadashi (Vrata which secures a good place in the next world) should first undertake the Vrata on the day of the twelfth phase of the moon's increase, in the month of Phalguna, and worship Krishna on all the subsequent Dvadashis of the year, by repeating the Mantra running as "0 Krishna, 0 Krishna, I make obeisance to thee," while the Vrata known as the Samprapti Dvadashi should be practiced on such a Tithi as the above, coming on in the month of Pousha.




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