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Agni Purana has also discussed the various Vratas which are part of the Divasa Vratas. While discussing the Divasa Vrata, the first Vrata which has been discussed by Lord Agni in Agni Purana is the Dhenu Vrata. It has said that the Dhenu Vrata should be practiced by making the gift of a cow, whose mouth and tail had been covered over with plated gold. The penitent should drink clarified butter only on the day of its observance, whereby he would attain an elevated station in the next world. It has been said that by living simply on clarified butter for three consecutive days, and by making the gift of a golden Kalpa tree, a man attains the Supreme Brahma. Similarly by making the gift of a twenty-two Pala weights of earth encased in a golden casket, a man goes to the region of Rudra.
It has been mentioned in the Agni Purana that Brahmanas should be feasted, and gifts of clothes, beddings, seats, umbrellas, vessels, and holy threads, should be made to them with the following prayer. "May all that which has been made defective in this difficult Vrata, through my ignorance or omission, be remedied and made up, through your gracious benediction". A man by practising such a Vrata, ascends the region of Lord Vishnu, after a long and prosperous career on earth. Agni Purana has also described the Kartika Vrata. It has been said that practising of Kartika Vrata grants enjoyment of earthly pleasures and salvation after death. The Vrati should eat only the composition known as the Panchagavya, on the day of the tenth phase of the moon's increase in the month of Kartika, fast on the following day, and worship the god Vishnu, whereby he would go to the region presided over by that deity.
Agni Purana mentions that by making gifts of five goats to a Brahmana and by breaking his fast in the night for three consecutive days, a man attains the highest felicity. In the Vrata, known as the Krichachah Mghendra, the Vrati should drink milk only for the first three nights, fast on the next three, and practise the Vrata on the day of the sixth phase of the moon's increase in the month of Kartika. Similarly in the form, known as the Krichachah Bhaskara, the penitent should live on curd on the day of the eleventh phase of the moon's increase in the month of Kartika, and drink milk on the next five days, whereby he would acquire immense wealth. In the Santapana Vrata, the diet of the penitent should consist of wheat, articles made of wheat, potherbs, curd, thickened milk, clarified butter and water, on the day of the fifth phase of the moon.
(Last Updated on : 22-04-2010)
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