This vrata is also among the eight great austerities observed by Hindus.The Vrishava Vrata is observed when the sun is in the Rishabha Rashi (Taurus Zodiac sign) in the month of Baisakhi (mid May to mid June), on the Ashtami (eight moon day) of Shukla Paksha (growing lunar phase). Skanda Purana has the description of this Vrata.

The devotee gets up early on the day of the Vrata and meditates on the Parameshvara and his consort, Uma being seated on a bull (Brishava). One should start the worshipping after being purified by taking bath. The idol of Rishabharudar should be made from gold or silver. The lord should be anointed with the substances like Panchamritam and other holy things.The offerings of rice and payasham are also made to the god. Then to the kind-hearted devotees of Lord Shiva, different things are donated. The devotees worship lord in the Shiva temple and return home happily. Later they take rice, sugar-rice, fruits and sweets along with other devotees without spoiling the intent of the austerity. The followers listen to the glories of Lord Shiva until late evening and then sleep on the bare floor that night. The following day, after saluting the god, the observer of this Vrata donate the idol to a sincere follower of lord Shiva.

One who observes this Vrishabha Vrata piously, would get long life, wealth, wisdom and health and also wins eight great treasures. Vishnu pleased lord Shiva by this Vrata and got `Garuda` (the holy bird of eagle family) as his vehicle and also lots of treasure. Indra got the elephant named `Airavata`, the fire-god got goat, death-god got buffalo, niruthi got human, water-god got crocodile, air-god got deer, Kubera got airplane Pushpaka Vimana, Ishanor got the ox that resembles the justice, sun-god got the chariot of one wheel and seven horses and moon god got the special ruby airplane. All the god got their vehicles by pleasing Rishabharudhar through Vrishabha Vrata. Once the Maharishi explained to the king of Maharashtra, Vishvasena all the things happening in past present and future. The King was astonished how this sage could know so many things. The sage replied it was because of the glory of Vrishabha Vrata. The king also started observing the austerity and he himself came to know all these things. The king Santushta worshipped and observed this Vrata and got eight great attainments or `Ashtha Maha Siddhi`. He also got the `Moksha` or eternal liberation. Another King Vidrutha was also the observer of this Vrata. He roamed around the seven down worlds and the worlds of Brahma, Vishnu and Indra. He transferred the knowledge of the Vrata to his sons and became Shiva Yogi.