Chapter 115 - The Exposition of the holy vows to be observed on Ṣaṣṭhī days

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: The Exposition of the holy vows to be observed on Ṣaṣṭhī (sixth) days (in lunar fortnights)]

Sanātana said:

1. O Brāhmaṇa, listen. I shall recount to you the holy rites to be observed on Ṣaṣṭhī days^[1] (sixth day in the lunar fortnight). On observing them perfectly, one shall obtain all cherished desires.

2-3a. On the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Caitra, the excellent holy rite of Kumāra Vrata is to be observed. By worshipping the six-faced Lord on that day in accordance with the different injunctions of worship, one shall attain a son who is endowed with all good qualities and who will live for a long time.

3b-4a. On the sixth day, in the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha, the devotee should worship Kārttika (Skanda). By doing so, one attains motherly affection and happiness. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.

4b-5a. By duly worshipping Divākara (the Sun) on the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha, one attains all desired benefits, thanks to his Grace. There is no doubt about this.

5b-6. The excellent holy rite of Skanda is to be observed on the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Āṣāḍha. The devotee should observe fast and then worship the beloved son of Śiva and Umā. He attains all cherished desires and the continuation of the line of sons and grandsons.

7-8a On the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Śrāvaṇa, the devotee, endowed with great devotion, should worship Śarajanman (i. e. Kārttikeya) with the sixteen Upacāras (types of services). Thanks to the grace of the six- faced Lord, he attains all desired objects.

8b-10. The holy vow that has to be observed on the sixth day in the month of Bhādrapada, the Lalitā Vrata^[2] is being recounted. A woman devotee should take morning bath duly on that day. She should wear white cloth and white garlands. She should take the sand from the confluence of a river, in a bamboo basket. She should then make five lumps of the sandy soil and meditate on goddess Lalitā, the sportive lady of the forest.

11-12. She should then take one hundred and eight flowers of each of lotus, Karavīra Nepālī, Jasmine, blue lotus, Ketakī and Tagara and twenty-eight unbroken buds. With these she should worship the goddess.

13-15. Sitting in front of the goddess, the beloved wife of Śiva, she should pray as follows: “By taking bath in Kanakhala, on the mountain Nīlaparvata, in the Kuśāvarta, in the Gaṅgādvāra and in the Bilvaka you obtained Hara as husband. O blessed goddess Lalitā, the bestower of happiness and conjugal blessedness, grant unto me endless blessedness. Obeisance, unto you again and again.” Uttering this Mantra, she should worship the goddess with splendid Campaka flowers duly. She should then place the Naivedya in front of the goddess.

16-20. The Naivedya should consist of Trapuṣa (a kind, of fruit) Kūṣmāṇḍa (gourd), coconut, excellent pomegranates, Tuṇḍīra, Kāravella(the gourd Momordica charantia), Cirbhaṭa (a sort of cucumber) and other seasonal fruits taken fresh. The surroundings of the image of the goddess should be beautified with rows of excellent lights and germinating food grains. There should be incense of Sargaṇaka (?) along with Sauhālakha and Karañjaka (?). Guḍapuṣpa (Bassia latifolia) should be placed as ornament of the cars. According to one’s affluence, sweetmeats of large and small varieties of various kinds should be used as Naivedya. After worship, she should celebrate the festival of keeping awake with songs and instrumental music, as well as dances and other scenic items of various types. The chaste lady should spend the whole of that night with her female friends.

21-26a. The woman devotee shall not close her eyes throughout the four Yāmas (3 hours) (of the night). By closing her eyes, she will become sinful, barren and unhappy. After keeping awake thus, she should take (everything) to a river on the Saptamī day (i. e. seventh day) to the accompaniment of songs and instrumental music. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, she should give that Naivedya etc. to a leading Brāhmaṇa. After taking her bath, she should return home and get the Homa performed in the fire. The Devas, Pitṛs and human beṃgs (i. e. guests) shall be worshipped. She should worship and feed married women, virgins and fifteen Brāhmaṇas with various kinds of foodstuffs and edibles. She should give them various charitable gifts as well. Saying “May Lalitā be pleased with me”, she should bid farewell to them.

26b-29a. Listen to the merit of this Vrata that bestows conjugal blessedness whether performed by a man or a woman. O Nārada, of what avail is much talk? That benefit which one desires by means of holy rites, austerities, charitable gifts and observances is attained by this holy rite. After death, the devotee attains the eternal Śivaloka and rejoices along with goddess Lalitā like her companion in the world of Śiva for a long time.

29b-30. The sixth day in the bright half of the month of Bhādrapada is called Candana Ṣaṣṭhī. By worshipping the goddess on that day, the devotee attains the same world as that of the deity. If the Ṣaṣṭhī coincides with the constellation Rohiṇī, the astronomical division called ‘Vyatipāta’ and Tuesday it is called Kapilāṣaṣṭhī.^[3]

31. The observer of the Vrata devoted to the observance, should worship the Sun on that day. Thanks to the grace of Sun-God, he attains cherished desires.

32. O excellent celestial sage, the charitable gift of cooked food, Japa, Homa, the rites of Tarpaṇa to the Pitṛs, Devas and sages, when performed on this day, all these should be known as everlasting.

33. After worshipping a tawny coloured cow with clothes, garlands and unguents, it shall be given to a Vedic Scholar for propitiating the sun.

34. On the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Āśvina, O Brāhmaṇa, goddess Kātyāyanī should be worshipped with scents and other auspicious articles and also with various kinds of Naivedya.

35-36a The devotee should then crave forgiveness from the goddess of the Devas, bow to her, and bid farewell to her.

On this day, either the image made of Sandy soil or the chaste wife of a Brāhmaṇa should be joyfully worshipped by means of clothes and auspicious ornaments, for the satisfaction of Kātyāyanī.

36b-37a. No doubt need be entertained in this respect that, thanks to the grace of Kātyāyinī,^[4] a virgin shall attain, the desired bridegroom and a woman the desired son.

37b-39. The highly blessed army of the Devas was entrusted (dedicated) to him (Skanda) by the Devas and hence acquired by the noble-minded six-faced Lord on the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika. Hence, on that day, the devotee should worship the army of the Devas consisting of excellent Devas as well as the six-faced Lord with all charming Upacāras. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, he shall achieve Siddhi mentally desired by him.

40. The worship of the fire-god is also prescribed for this day. The devotee should carry it out perfectly along with the worship of fire, and Homas, with different kinds of articles of worship.

41-42. The Asura Tāraka was killed on the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa. The Satkṛti (honour and greetings) offered by Brahmā and other gods were received by Skanda. Hence on this day, the devotee should worship Skanda with scents, fragrant flowers, raw rice grains, fruits, clothes, ornaments and diverse kinds of Naivedya.

43. If the Ṣaṣṭhī coincides with Sunday or the constellation Śatabhiṣak or Śatatāra, O excellent sage, it is called Campāṣaṣṭhī.^[5]

44. On that day, Lord Viśveśvara, the destroyer of sins, should be seen, worshipped, known and remembered by one who wishes for happiness.

45a. Holy dip, charitable gift etc., performed on this day are proclaimed to be everlasting.

45b-47. O Brāhmaṇa, it was on the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Pauṣa that Dinapati (the Sun) manifested himself in the form of eternal Viṣṇu, the protector of the Universe. Hence, on this day, he is to be worshipped with scents and other articles of worship, Naivedyas, clothes and ornaments by those who desire for all kinds of happiness.

48-50a. The sixth day in the bright half of the month of Māgha is called Varuṇa^[6] Ṣaṣṭhī. On that day, one should worship god Varuṇa who has the eternal form of Viṣṇu, with scents, red silken garments, flowers, Naivedyas, incense and lights. By worshipping thus in accordance with the injunctions, the man obtains whatever he desires. After attaining all the fruits he rejoices, thanks to his grace.

50b-51. On the sixth day in the bright half of the month of Phālguna, O Brāhmaṇa, the devotee should make an image of Lord Paśupati duly in clay and worship it with Upacāras (sixteen articles and modes). He should bathe the image with water or Pañcāmṛta while uttering Śatarudra mantra.

52-53. While unguents shall be smeared over the image, the deity should be worshipped with raw rice-grains, white flowers and fruits. Different kinds of Naivedya should be offered. Nīrājana (waving of lights) is duly performed. After bowing to and craving forgiveness of the Lord, he should be ritualistically sent to Kailāsa.

54. O sage, whether he is a man or a woman, whoever performs the worship of Śiva thus, enjoys all worldly pleasures here and in the end attains the goal of Śiv

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

It is noteworthy that most of the sixth days in lunar fortnights are sacred to god Skanda and most of the Vratas have Skanda as the presiding deity, the main exception being Lalita Ṣaṣṭhī and Kapilā Ṣaṣṭhī.

[2]:

Verses 8b-29a describe the Lalitā Ṣaṣṭhī Vrata. Vratarāja. (pp. 103-104) quotes Bhaviṣyottara-purāṇa from Caturvarga Cintāmaṇi Vrata I. 617-620). It is popular in Gujarat according to Vratarāja.

[3]:

One wonders why such a rare and important occasion like Kapilā-ṣaṣṭhī which comes but once in 60 years, is so casually treated here. “The bright half of Bhādrapada” given in the Nārada-purāṇa. is by amānta reckoning Bhādrapada Kṛṣṇa. The occurrence of Rohiṇī Constellation in combination with other five factors (Tuesday, Vyatīpāta yoga etc) is possible in amānta reckoning. Hemādri states the following combination as Kapilā ṣaṣṭhī: Bhādrapada Kṛ. 6th day, Tuesday, Vyatipāta Yoga and Rohiṇī Nakṣaṭra. Vratarāja. confirms these by quoting from another source. But the Karavīra Māhātmya a Sthala Purāṇa of Kolhapur (regarded as a part of the Padmapurāṇa.) allows even Sunday as an alternate to Tuesday for Kapilā ṣaṣṭhī. It states:

ṣaṣṭhī bhādre ca kṛṣṇā ga[??]ja-kṛti yutā rohiṇi-pātayuktā 
vāre bhanau ca bhaume'pyatha ca mṛga-ṣire deva-p[?]jyetha saṃsthe

The commentator-Dajiba Joshi Rao-quotes from Purāṇasamuccaya:

bhādra māsyasite pakṣe bhānau caiva kare sthite 
pāte kuje ca rauhiṇyām sā ṣaṣṭhī kapilā bhavet

The commentary concludes: “As the text (Karavīra Māhātmya) states that this (Kapilā) Ṣaṣṭhī can fall either on Sunday or Tuesday, even Sunday is important. (atra mūle bhānu-bhaumavārayoḥ kathanād bhāna-vāra-yogo'pi mukhyaḥ.)

As this Vrata is for the propitiation of the Sun-god, Sunday might have been allowed for Kapilā-ṣaṣṭhī in the Karavīra Māhātmya. I could not trace it to any other authority. The gift of a tawny cow, being an integral part of this Vrata, it probably came to be known as Kapilā ṣaṣṭhī.

[4]:

The Nārada-purāṇa uses both forms—Kātyāyanī; Kātyāyinī

[5]:

This delimitation of the term Campā Ṣaṣṭhī is supported by Hemādri (Caturvarga Cintāmaṇi-Vrata I. 590-596 wherein he quotes the Skandapurāṇa) and by Smṛti Kaustubha 221-222. Vratarāja (p. 108) requires Vaidhṛti Yoga, Tuesday and Viśākha Nakṣatra on this day to call it Campā Ṣaṣṭhī. But this combination is so rare that it occurs once in 30 years or so. It is strongly recommended that god Maheśvara should be seen on this day. But in Maharashtra, Mārgaśīrṣa Śu. Ṣaṣṭhī is called Campā Ṣaṣṭhī irrespective of the day or Yoga.

[6]:

This seems to be a contribution of the Nārada-purāṇa. as Kane does not mention it in History of Dharma Śāstra.V. i.