There are a lot of Vratas prescribed in the Smritis and Puranas.
Vrata means vow.
It does not mean a taking a vow, but involves following strict procedures in Food,Conduct and the chanting of God’s Names and visiting Temples.
The Vratas can not be followed as and when one feels like.
Days/Dates are prescribed.
In addition Family customs have to be taken into account.
Unless otherwise advised by the Guru new Vratas may not be followed which have not been followed hitherto by the Family Traditions.
Based on the Puranas ,I am listing a list of Vratas to be followed for obtaining the Grace of Lord Vishnu.
1.Cithirai-Vamana Vrata on Shukla Paksha Dwadasi.
2.Vaikashi-Sikla Paksha Dwadasi Parashurama.
3.Aani-Sukla Paksha Dwadasi, Lord Rama, This is also called Rama Dwadasi.
3.Aadi-Sukla Paksha Dwadasi-Krishna Dwadasi.
4.Aavani-Buddha Dwadasy for relief from difficulties of any nature.
6.Purattasai-Krishna Paksha Dwadasi kalki Dwadasi.
7.Aippasi-Sukla paksha Dwadasi padmanabha Dwdasi.
8. Karthigai-Sukla Paksha Dwadasi-Vishnu Dwadasi, also called Paththa Paavana Dwadasi.This was the day when Varaha protected the world.
9.Margazhi-Sukla Paksha Dwadasi-Machcha Dwadai.
10.Thai-Koora Dwadasi Sukla Paksha Dwadasi.
11Maasi- Suklapaksha Dwadasi-Sarva paapa Vimochanam Dwdasi, Varaha Dwadasi.This annihilates all sins.
12.Panguni-Narasimha Dwadasi, Sukla Paksha Dwadasi for varaha.
13.Kaanthi Vrata;Sukla Paksha Dwithitiyai( second day after New Moon) for Krishna.On this Thithi Krishna/Balarama are to be worshipped and Silver idols of each is be donated .
* New Moon to Full Moon Sukla Paksha
Full Moon to Nwe Moon-Krishna Paksha.
Tamil Months and corresponding English Months.
The number of days in a month varies between 29 and 32.
The following list compiles the months of the Tamil Calendar.
| No. | Month (Tamil) | Month (English) | Sanskrit Name * | Gregorian Calendar equivalent |
| 01. | சித்திரை | Cittirai | Chaitra | mid-April to mid-May |
| 02. | வைகாசி | Vaikāci | Vaisākha | mid-May to mid-June |
| 03. | ஆனி | Āni | Jyaishtha | mid-June to mid-July |
| 04. | ஆடி | Āṭi | Āshāḍha | mid-July to mid-August |
| 05. | ஆவணி | Āvaṇi | Shrāvaṇa | mid-August to mid-September |
| 06. | புரட்டாசி | Puraṭṭāci | Bhādrapada/Prauṣṭhapada | mid-September to mid-October |
| 07. | ஐப்பசி | Aippaci | Ashwina/Ashvayuja | mid-October to mid-November |
| 08. | கார்த்திகை | Kārttikai | Kārttika | mid-November to mid-December |
| 09. | மார்கழி | Mārkazhi | Mārgaṣīrṣa | mid-December to mid-January |
| 10. | தை | Tai | Pausha/Taiṣya | mid-January to mid-February |
| 11. | மாசி | Māci | Māgha | mid-February to mid-March |
| 12. | பங்குனி | Paṅkuni | Phalguna | mid-March to mid-April |
Note: The Sanskrit months above would start one month ahead of Tamil months since the Tamil calendar is a solar calendar while the Sanskrit calendar is a lunisolar calendar.
It is of interest to note that these Vratas cover all the Avataras of Vishnu.
All the Vratas are to be followed on Dwdasi, whic is natural, as Lord Vishnu is associated with number 12-he is one among the 12 Adithyas,His Dwadasa Naama’Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya’ contains twelve Aksharas or letters in Sanskrit and Sri Vaishnava practice is to keep everything inmultiples of Twelve including the cheer(things offerd in Marriages.
But the greates Vrata of Vishnu is Ekadasi, which is Symbloic of Lord Shiva!
Sathya Narayna Vrata and others are not found in the Purans, may be they are from the Smritis or by tradition
Vrata Source;Sri Varaha Purana.
Related articles
Leave a Reply