Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates ‘Sun-worship Vratas (40) Varunavrata’ of the study on the Vedic influence of Sun-worship in the Puranas, conducted by Goswami Mitali in 2018. The tradition of observing Agnihotra sacrifice and the Sandhya, etc., is frequently observed among the Hindus. Another important innovation of the Sun-worship in the Puranas is the installation of the images of the Sun in the temples.—This section belongs to the series “Rituals Related to the Sun-Worship in the Puranas”.
Sun-worship Vratas (40) Varuṇavrata
The Varuṇavrata is observed with a view to securing Varuṇaloka. This vrata is observed from the beginning of Bhādrapada to the full moon thereof. It is believed that if a man standing a whole night in water donates a cow in the next morning, he secures Varuṇaloka by the grace of the deity:
niśi kṛtvā jale vāsaṃ prabhāte goprado bhavet/
vāruṇaṃ lokamāpnoti varuṇavratamucyate//[1]
At the end of the vrata, jaladhenu is donated together with umbrella, Sandals and two garments.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Matsyapurāṇa, 101.74; Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, 3.195.1-3