History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.303

v6.c81.303

The Mahābhārata²⁰⁵ prescribes how to set about a vrata. 'Taking in one's hand a copper vessel full of water and turning one's face to the north one should undertake the upavāsa, or whatever else he resolves in his mind to undertake as a vrata.' Devala²⁰⁶ also says 'without taking food (the previous night), after taking a bath and having performed *ācamana* (ceremonial sipping of water) and after having declared before the Sun and other *devatās* (his intent) a person should perform a vrata'. The Varāhapurāṇa²⁰⁷ sets out the formula of *saṅkalpa* 'after passing the 11th tithi without any food, I shall partake of food the next day, O lotus-eyed one (Viṣṇu), O Acyuta, be thou my refuge'. The saṅkalpa is to be generally made in the case of a fast²⁰⁸ or vrata in the morning; the first fifth part of a day comprising three ghaṭikās is called morning. Even when a tithi does not begin in the morning (but begins in the afternoon) the saṅkalpa has to be made in the morning provided a vrata is to be performed on that tithi though it be viddhā. If no saṅkalpa is made the person secures very little benefit from the vrata²⁰⁹ and half the merit is lost.