History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.2032

v6.c81.2032

*Viṣṇuvrata*—(1) worship of Viṣṇu image drawn on a lotus; this vrata has the same procedure as Vaiśvānaravrata; HV I. 1177 (from Bhav.); (2) fast on twelve dvādaśīs (in a year) and gift of cow, calf and gold; performer secures highest goal; HV I. 1202 (from Pad ), VKK 70, (3) begin on 2nd tithi of P. śu.; for a year divided into two periods of six months each; the performer bathes on the four days from 2nd tithi with water respectively mixed with mustard, sesame, *vacā* (plant with aromatic root) and *sarvauṣadhīs*; the names to be worshipped on those four days are respectively Kṛṣṇa, Acyuta, Hṛṣīkeśa and Keśava; arghya to be offered to the crescent of the moon on the four tithis respectively as Śaśin, Candra, Śaśāṅka and Niśāpati; performer to eat once at night while moonlight lasts; dakṣiṇā to be given on 5th, this was performed by ancient kings (Dilīpa, Duṣyanta), sages (Marīci, Cyavana) and high-born ladies (Devakī, Sāvitrī, Subhadrā); result-removal of sins and securing desired objects, Agni 177. 15–20, HV II. 458–460 (from Vi. Dh.); (4) early morning bath for four months from Ās, gift on K. pūrṇimā of a cow and dinner to brāhmaṇas; reaches Viṣṇuloka, KKV 444 (quoting Mat. 101. 37), KR 219; (5) on Cai. śu 4th observe fast and worship the several groups of four forms in which Hari appears, viz Nara, Nārāyaṇa, Haya and Haṁsa, or as Mitra, Varuṇa, Indra and Viṣṇu, the first two being Sādhyas and the latter two siddhas; perform for twelve years; he finds the way to *mokṣa* and becomes equal to the Highest, Vi. Dh. III 151. 1–8