DHANYA-VRATA
This particular austerity is a form of ‘nakta-vrata’, which means observing fast for the whole day and breaking it in the night. The austerity commences on the first day of the bright half of the hindu month-aghan and lasts for a year. Rituals include worshiping Agnideva-an embodiment of lord Vishnu,chanting of certain mantras praising the glory of the deity and performing ‘havan’. There are specific instructions on the type of food a devotee should have during the course of this austerity-for four months(chaitra to ashadh) he should have delicacies like ‘kheer’ seasoned in pure ghee.From shravan to kartik he should have food-items prepared from gram-flour. This way,the austerity lasts for one year whereby a devotee observes fast on the first day of every month that follows. The austerity concludes by worshipping an idol of lord Agni made of gold. The idol is adorned with a piece of red-cloth and red-flowers are offered to the deity while worshipping. After the rituals are accomplished, the idol should be donated to a brahmin. The observance of this particular austerity brings good fortune to a man and makes him prosperous.
KANTI-VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of sri Krishna and Balaram. It commences on the second day of the bright half of the hindu month-kartik and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on the second day(bright half) of every month that follows. While worshipping Balarama,a devotee should chant-‘om baldevay namah’ and while worshipping sri Krishna he should chant-‘om keshavay namah’. Subsequently, ‘ardhya’is offered to both the deities. A devotee should have food prepared from barley-flour in the night but those devotees who have resolved to observe this austerity for four months beginning from ‘falgun’ should live only on ‘kheer’. Offerings of rice and sesame seeds are made in the sacrificial- fire during the months of ‘aghan’ and ‘kartik’ respectively. The rituals conclude by worshipping the deity ‘Chandrama’at the end of the year. Finally all the three idols (sri Krishna,Balram and Chandrama) should be donated to brahmins. A devotee who observes this austerity is bestowed with a charming personality
SAUBHAGYA-VRATA
This austerity commences on the third day of the bright half of the hindu month-falgun and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on the third day(bright half) of every month that follows. According to the tradition a devotee can either worship ‘Shiva-Parvati’ or ‘Sri Hari-Laxmi on this auspicious day. While worshipping,the devotee should chant the following mantras-om gambhiray namah, om saubhagyay namah, om devdevay namah,om trinetray namah,om vachaspataye namah,om rudray namah,etc.One important feature of the rituals is making offerings of honey and ghee to the sacrificial fire.During the course of the rituals, a devotee should have food prepared from pure cereals preferably wheat. After the rituals are accomplished at the end of the year,the idols should be donated to brahmins. One who observes this austerity is blessed with good fortune in his successive seven births.
AVIGHNA-VRATA
As the name implies,this austerity clears all the obstacles faced by a man. It commences on the fourth day of the bright half of the hindu month-falgun and lasts for four months whereby a devotee observes fast on the fourth day(bright half) of every month that follows. One important characteristic of this austerity is the importance and use of sesame seeds in it’s rituals.It is not only the chief constituent of the diet but it is also offered in the sacrificial fire and donated to the brahmins as well. After observing this austerity for four months,a devotee should conclude it by worshipping lord Ganesh in the fifth month and donating the Ganesh-idol to a brahmin alongwith five pots filled with sesame seeds. While worshipping lord Ganesh, he should chant the following mantras-om shooray namah, om dhiray namah, om gajananay namah, om lambodaray namah, om ekdanshtray namah, etc. A devotee thus becomes free from all kind of obstacles and all his wishes are fulfilled
SHANTI-VRATA
This austerity commences on the fifth day of the bright half of the hindu month-kartik and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on the fifth day(bright half) of the every month that follows.It is related with the worship of lord Vishnu and Sheshnag. A devotee should abstain from hot and spicy food during the course of this austerity. Lord Vishnu’s idol is purified by chanting mantras and by performing ablution with milk.Offerings of sesame seeds and milk are made in the sacrificial fire.After the accomplishment of the rituals at the year end, brahmins are invited and fed. Finally,the idol of Sheshnag is donated to one of them. A devotee who performs this austerity becomes free from all kinds of turbulence in his life and experiences peace and tranquility.
KAAM-VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of lord Kartikeya and is observed in the bright half of the hindu month-pausha. On the sixth day of this month, a devotee is expected to live on nothing else but fruits. Lord Kartikeya is also known by several other names-Shadanan, Senani, Kritikasut, Kumar, Skand, etc. The austerity concludes by feeding the brahmins at the year end and making donations to them.A devotee who observes this austerity gets all his wishes fulfilled.
AAROGYA-VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of lord Surya Narayan who is also known by several other names like Aaditya, Bhaskar, Ravi, Bhanu, Diwakar, Prabhakar, etc. A devotee should observe a fast on the seventh day of any month and worship lord Suryanarayan. The fast should be broken on the next day-ashtami.A devotee can continue this ritual for one year following the above mentioned rituals. A devotee who observes the rituals of this austerity becomes free from all kind of diseases and enjoys a healthy life.
PUTRA-PRAPTI VRATA
This austerity commences on the eighth day of the bright half of the hindu month-bhadrapad. The rituals consist of taking a ‘sankalp’ on the preceding day (saptami) and worshipping lord sri Hari on the next day with appropriate rituals. Offerings are made to the sacrificial fire, which usually consist of articles like barley, sesame seeds, ghee, etc. The austerity concludes by feeding the invited brahmins and making donations to them. This way,the austerity continues for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on ‘ashtami’ of every month. A sonless person is blessed with a son if he observes this austerity with total devotion .This austerity, which is popularly known as ‘Krishna ashtami’also helps a devotee to become absolved of gravest of sin.
SHAURYA AND SARVA BHAUM VRATA
Shaurya and Sarva Bhaum vrata is related with the worship of goddess Durga and is observed on the nineth day of the bright half of the hindu month-ashvin. The rituals commence by taking a ‘sankalp’ as well as observing a fast on the preceding day(saptami). The fast is broken on the next day(ashtami) by having fruits. Cereals are excluded from the diet. One important aspect of this austerity is the worship of virgin girls along with goddess Durga. One who observes the rituals of this austerity attains power valour and strength. Sarva bhaum vrata is related with the worship of all the ten directions,considered as goddesses.A fast is observed on the tenth day of the bright half of the hindu month-kartik and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on the tenth day(bright half) of every month that follows. One important charecteristic of this fast is that it is broken at the end of the day by having rice and curd. Making sacrifices in the name of all the ten directions are the inseparable part of this austerity.A devotee, who observes this austerity lasting for a year remains invincible in whatever he does.
TIL DHENU-DAAN
As the name implies,an idol of a cow made from powdered sesame seeds is donated to a brahmin.The idol should weigh not less than sixteen ‘prasthas'(one prastha=four kudav,ancient units of weight measurment) Similarly,a calf’s idol made from powdered sesame seeds and weighing four ‘prasthas’is donated to a brahmin.Apart from these idols ofcow and calf a devotee should also donate’deer-skin’. While donating these things,he should pray in the following way-‘O Til dhenu!Bless me so that I enjoy prosperity and never experience scarcity of any kind in my life. The brahmin receiving the donation should express his gratitude in the following way-‘O goddess! I am receiving you in all humility. Bless and nurture my whole family’. A person who donates ‘Til Dhenu’get’s all his wishes fulfilled and attains to Vishnu loka after his death.
JAL-DHENU DAAN
The method of donating ‘Jal Dhenu’ is as follows-first of all small area of land is purified by coating it with cow dung and place two small pots are placed at the centre. These pots are filled with different things like water, camphor, sandalwood, etc. The devotee should then imagine goddess Jal Dhenu and her calf to be dwelling in those pots respectively.Both the pots are adequately adorned with various articles like sandalwood, flowers and then worshipped. After the completion of the rituals both the idols are donated to brahmins.A person who donates Jal Dhenu or a brahmin who accepts it attains to Vishnu loka after being absolved of all his sins.
RASA DHENU DAAN
First of all, the area is purified by coating it with cow-dung after which a black deer-skin is spread on it alongwith ‘kusha grass’. Two pots-one large and the other a small one are placed side by side. These pots are filled with sugarcane juice and symbolize ‘Rasa-Dhenu’ and the calf. Four sugarcanes symbolizing the four legs of ‘Rasa-Dhenu’ are fixed at four corners. After that, one small silver piece is placed at the base of each of the sugarcanes symbolizing hoofs. Rasa-Dhenu is then adorned with colourful cloths and flowers. Again, four small pots filled with sesame seeds are kept at the four corners near Rasa-Dhenu. After the worship is accomplished, Rasa-Dhenu is donated to a brahmin. A person who donates Rasa-Dhenu is liberated from all his sins and all his ancestors as well as the generations to come attain to the Heaven.
