History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1839

v6.c81.1839

*Mahāvrata*—(1) In M. or Cai. a person may donate guḍadhenu and should subsist only on jaggery on 3rd tithi; he reaches goloka; Mat. 101. 53 q by KKV 446 (32nd Sastivrata), KR 118; for Guḍadhenu vide Mat. 82 and H. of Dh. II. 880; (2) begin with fast on 14th or 8th śu., when in conjunction with Śravaṇa-nakṣatra; tithivrata, Śiva deity; to be performed by kings; HV I. 864-865 (from Kālottara); (3) on K. amāvāsyā or pūrṇimā a person should take up niyamas, eat by nakta way pāyasa with ghee, use sandalwood and sugarcane juice; on following pratipad he should fast and invite eight or sixteen Śaiva brāhmaṇas (for dinner); Śiva deity, should bathe Śiva image with pañcagavya, ghee, honey and other things and lastly with warm water; offer naivedya, donate to ācārya and brāhmaṇas with their wives gold, garments &c; this vrata to be performed for 16 years with some different arrangements of nakta and upavāsas on different tithis acc. to the year, it confers long life, beauty, saubhāgya on male or female performer; HV II. 377-391 (from Kālikā-purāṇa); (4) fast on each paurṇamāsī and worship Hari as sakala Brahma and on amāvāsyā as niṣkala (partless) Brahma; for one year; all sins are destroyed and he reaches heaven, if performed for 12 years, reaches Viṣṇuloka; Vi. Dh III. 198 1-7, q by HV II. 461, 'Sakala' means 'sāvayava' (with parts) i. e. in an anthropomorphic form (such as Viṣṇu with four arms), while 'niṣkala' Brahma would be without parts as described in Muṇḍakopaniṣad II 2 9; (5) on 8th or 14th tithi in both fortnights observe nakta way and worship Śiva; one year; reaches the highest goal, HV II. 398 (from Liṅ.).