Chapter CXXXVII - The Damanaka Tryodasi Vratas

Brahma said:—The god (shiva) should be worshipped with the offerings of Damanaka leaves, etc., on the day of the thirteenth phase of the moon’s increase, which is held sacred to the God of Love. The merit of the Puja would make the votary a favourite with the fair sex, and enable him to live happy and prosperous, free from all pain and bereavement. Thus the description of the Madana Trayodashi is finished. By worshipping the God shiva on the eighth, and the fourteenth, day of the fortnight, each month, for a year, the votary is freed from the chains of necessary re-births. By making the gift of a well-furnished room on the iullmoon night in the month of Kartika, and by observing a fast for three days previous thereto, the giver is translated to the region of the Sun, after death. Libations of water should be offered to the Pitris on the day of the new moon, and on each day by mentioning its name. The votary should fast the whole day and take his meal in the night, whereby he would be entitled to all the pleasures of life. The God Hari should be worshipped on a day in the month of Agrahayana, marked by the asterism Mrigashira, by addressing him as, “O Keshava, etc.” He should be addressed as Narayana and worshipped in the month of Pausha on a day marked by the asterism Pushya. Similarly, he should be invoked by the epithet Madhava and worshipped in the month of Magha on a day marked by the asterism Magha. He should be invoked by the name of Govinda in the month of Phalguna and worshipped on a day marked by the asterism Purva Phalguni. The name by which he should be invoked on the day of the Puja in the month of Chaitra, which should be under the auspices of the asterism Chitra, is Vishnu. Similarly, “Madhusudana, Tribikrama, Vamana, shridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha, and Damodara,” are the epithets by which he should be invoked and worshipped on the days in the months of Vaishakha, Jaishtha, ashada, Shravana, Bhadra, ashvin, and Kartika, respectively marked by the asterisms Vishakha, Jestha, Purvashada, Shravana, Purva-Bhadrapada, Ashvini, and Krittika. Offerings of Payasha, etc., should be made to the God in the months of A’shada, etc., and the Brahmanas should be sumptuously feasted therewith. Only Brahmanas well versed in the knowledge of Pancha-Ratra school of philosophy should be invited on the occasion.

The Vrata should be practised for a year, at the close of which the God Vishnu should be worshipped and addressed as follows:—

“O thou who suiierest no decay, O thou who art the supreme Brahma make infinite the good which I covet in this life. Absolve my soul from all sins which I have wittingly or unwittingly committed, O lord, who can not be measured by any standard of measurement. Grant all my prayers, O thou, the eternal immeasurable stay of the universe, whom decay afflicteth not and who art the foremost of beings.”

A person seeking beauty, possession, or longevity; should practise the Vrata for seven years in succession. The Gods Kuvera, Agni and Ashvis should be worshipped on the first; the Deities shri and Yama, on the second; the Godidess Parvati, on the fifth; the Nagas, on the sixth; the Sun-God on the seventh; the Matris, on the eighth; Takshaka, on the ninth; Indra and Kuvera, on the tenth; the holy sages, oft the eleventh; the God Hari, on the twelfth; Maheshvara on the thirteenth; and Brahma, on the fourteenth day of the fortnight. The Pitris should be worshipped on the days of the new and full moon. The day of the thirteenth phase of the moon on which the god Maheshvara should be worshipped is known as Kama-Trayodashi.