History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.165

v6.c81.165

In the Varāhapurāṇa the question¹¹¹ asked is 'how can a poor man reach God' and the reply is that he can do so by *vratas* and fasts The Lingapurāṇa (pūrvārdha 83 4) provides that one who for a year observes *nakta* (eating only once in the evening) and worship of Śiva on the 14th and 8th tithis in each pakṣa (fortnight) secures the reward of all sacrifices and reaches the highest goal The Bhaviṣya asserts that brāhmaṇas who have no sacred fires (śrauta or smārta) benefit in this way that gods become pleased with them by (the observance of) vratas, fasts, restrictive rules of conduct and various kinds of gifts, particularly by a fast on special tithis.