The Agni Purana
by N. Gangadharan | 1954 | 360,691 words | ISBN-10: 8120803590 | ISBN-13: 9788120803596
This page describes Vows to be observed on the fourteenth day which is chapter 192 of the English translation of the Agni Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas dealing with all topics concerning ancient Indian culture, tradition and sciences. Containing roughly 15,000 Sanskrit metrical verses, subjects contained in the Agni-Purana include cosmology, philosophy, architecture, iconography, economics, diplomacy, pilgrimage guides, ancient geography, gemology, ayurveda, etc.
Chapter 192 - Vows to be observed on the fourteenth day
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Fire-god said:
1-10. I shall describe the vow (to be practised) on the fourteenth (lunar) day that would confer enjoyment and emancipation. One should fast on the fourteenth day in (the month of) kārttika (November-December) and worship (lord) Śiva. One who performs (the worship of) Śiva (on) the fourteenth day would get all pleasures through the year, wealth and long life. One should take the vow of an ascetic on the eighth or third or twelfth or fourteenth day in the bright (fortnight) in (the month of) mārgaśīrṣa (December-January), eat fruit (only) and worship the lord. Then one should leave (taking fruits) and give fruits as gifts practising the vow of Phalacaturdaśī. One should worship (lord) Śambhu (Śiva) on the eighth and fourteenth days in both the dark and bright fortnights without eating. (One who practises the vow) on both the fortnights would reach heaven. One who eats food only in the night on the eighth and fourteenth days of the dark (fortnight) would get all pleasures in this world and good position in the other (world). One who bathes on the fourteenth day in the dark (fortnight) in (the month of) kārttika (November-December) (would be) happy, when he worships Mahendra in flagstaffs in the form of the banner. One should worship Ananta (endless), (a form of) Hari on fourteenth day of the bright (fortnight). After having made a water-vessel out of darbha, one should prepare cakes from the flour of a prastha (a measure) of rice. He should give one half (of that) to a brahmin and enjoy the other half himself. (This vow) should be done near the river and after the narration of the anecdotes of (lord) Hari. “O (lord) Vāsudeva! Lift us drowned in the great ocean of endless mundane existence and put in the limitless form. Obeisance to you of the limitless form”. After having worshipped with these (words) and bound the consecrated thread on his own hand or the neck, the performer of the Anantavrata becomes happy.