Chapter 80 - The Vrata Called Manorathatṛtīyā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Skanda said:

1. O Pot-born One, on seeing that wonderful incident Jagadaṃbikā bowed down to the great Lord Śaṃbhu, the destroyer of the distress of those who bow down and said:

Anibikā said:

2. O great Lord, O Maheśvara, it is the greatness of this Pīṭha that even brutish (non-human) creatures attained knowledge that facilitates release from worldly existence.

3. Therefore, having understood the power of Dharmapīṭha, O Dhūrjaṭi, I shall stay in the vicinity of Dharmeśvara from this day onwards.

4. I shall always enable the devotees of this Liṅga, be they men or women, to achieve the fulfilment of their desire.

Īśvara said:

5. You have done well, O Goddess, in adopting and supporting this Dharmapīṭha that enables good people to realize their desires.

6. Only they are the enjoyers of all, only they are worthy of being honoured by all, who adore you, O Viśvabhuje, here.

7. O Viśvabhuje, the bestower (cause) of the origin, sustenance and annihilation of Viśva (the universe), people all over the world who worship you here, will become men of pure souls.

8. If anyone performs devotional rites unto you on the third lunar day (in the bright half of Caitra) called Manoratha Tṛtīyā, whatever he desires will be realized, due to my blessings.

9. O beloved, whether it is a woman or a man, the devotee who performs your Vrata realizes all desires and in the end obtains (spiritual) knowledge.

Devī said:

10. O Lord, be pleased to tell this: What sort of Vrata is Manoratha Tṛtīyā? What is the story? What is the benefit? By whom has it been observed?

Īśvara said:

11. Listen, O Goddess, O redeemer from worldly existence, I shall answer what has been asked by you. This Manoratha Vrata is a greater secret than the greatest one.

12. Pulomā’s daughter (i.e. Śacī) formerly performed a great penance in order to attain some desire, but she did not get the benefit of the penance.

13. Thereupon, she worshipped me joyously with great devotion. She had a sweet melodious voice and she worshipped to the accompaniment of music with the secret (implied) therein.

14. I was extremely delighted by her song which was soft and sweet; the Tāla (beating the time), the setting, the Dhātu (Tānas), Māna and Kāla were excellent.

15. I said, “O Pulomajā, speak out the boon you wish to have. I am delighted by this excellent song and the adoration of the Liṅga.”

Pulomajā said:

16. If the Lord of Devas is pleased, O Mahādeva, the great beloved of the great goddess, fulfil the desire I do cherish.

17. May he be my husband, he who is honoured among all Devas, is the most handsome among all the Devas, is the most excellent one among the regular performers of sacrifices.

18. O Bhava, delighted that you are, grant me beauty as desired, happiness as desired and span of life as desired.

19. Whenever with a hearty desire for happiness I do have physical contact with my husband, let me have another body after casting off that one.

20. O Bhava, O destroyer of worldly existence, let my devotion to the adoration of the Liṅga be excellent, removing old age and death.

21. Even at the departure of the husband, let me not have widowhood even for a moment. O Mahādeva, but my chastity shall not be violated.

Skanda said:

22. On hearing this desire of Paulomī, the Lord, the destroyer of Puras, became surprised for a moment. Smilingly he said:

Īśvara said:

23. O daughter of Pulomā, you will have this desire that you have cherished fulfilled through the observance of a Vrata. Perform it, O lady, with the sense-organs controlled.

24. It will be fulfilled by the observance of Manorathatṛtīyā. I shall describe the Vrata for the fulfilment thereof. Perform it as recounted.

25. If that Vrata which yields great conjugal bliss is performed, O girl, your desire shall definitely be fulfilled.

Pulomā-Kanyā said:

26. O Śaṃbhu, O ocean of compassion, O bestower of everything on the living beings who bow down, of what nature is that Vrata? What is its efficacy. What deity has to be invoked there?

27. When should it be performed? What is the mode of procedure?

On hearing these words, Śiva spoke to her:

Īśvara said:

28. O Paulomī, that splendid Vrata is to be observed on Manorathatṛtīyā. Goddess Viśvabhujā Gaurī, having twenty arms, should be worshipped.

29. Āśāvināyaka should be worshipped before the goddess by the observer of the Vrata. He is the bestower of boon and grantor of freedom from fear with the gestures of his hand. A rosary and sweetmeat are held in the hands.

30-35. On the eve of Caitra Śukla Tṛtīyā, the devotee first cleans his teeth. After the performance of the evening rites (Sandhyā prayers etc.) he should take a meal in moderate quantity, not for full satiation. Controlling anger, curbing the sense-organs, he should be pure, avoiding the touch of those precluded from being touched and keep the mind fixed on the deity. Then he should formally resolve to take up the Vrata: ‘I shall observe the Vrata in the morning, O faultless mother Viśvabhujā. Please do be present there for the fulfilment of my desire.’ After succinctly stating and formally adopting the Vrata, he should go to sleep at night meditating on auspicious things. The sensible devotee should get up early in the morning and go through the essential daily routine. After Śauca purificatory rites like Śauca and Ācamana, he should take up the tooth-brush twig of Aśoka tree which is auspicious and destructive of all grief. The day routine is duly concluded and the excellent devotee conversant with the rules enjoined shall take his bath again the evening. Wearing pure (fresh) clothes, he shall perform the adoration of Gaurī.

36-39. At the outset Vināyaka is to be worshipped with the Naivedya offering of Ghṛtapūra (sweetmeat). Then the devotee worships Viśvabhujā with excellent Aśoka flowers. Aśokavarti (wick of Aśoka twig), Naivedya offerings, incense of agallochum etc. should be offered. The deity is smeared with Kuṃkuma (saffron powder). Ekabhakta (single ball of rice) should be then offered along with Aśokavarti lamp and charming Ghṛtapūras. Thus Caitra Tṛtīyā passes off, O daughter of Pulomā. The devotee should observe the Vrata on all the Tṛtīyās beginning with Vaiśākha and ending with Phālguna. I shall describe the twigs to be used as tooth-brush in the proper order:

40-42. I shall describe the objects used as unguent and also the flowers. O Girl of auspicious Vratas, I shall describe the Naivedya of Gaṇanāyaka and the goddess. I shall describe the cooked food for Ekabhakta also. Listen to them for the purpose of acquiring the desired benefit. The following twigs are to be used as tooth-brush (in those eleven months in due order): Jaṃbū, Apāmārga, Khadira, Jāti, Cūta, Kadambaka, Plakṣa, Uduṃbara, Kharjūri, Bijapūrī and Dāḍimī. These are the trees from which the tooth-brush twigs should be taken by the persons observing the Vrata.

43-46. O girl, the unguent shall be as follows: Sindūra (saffron), agallochum, musk, sandal, red sandal, Gorocanā, Devadāru, lotus-seed, turmeric (for two months) and Yakṣakardama. If anyone or all of the previous are not available, then Yakṣakardama is recommended. This Yakṣakardama is a favourite of Devas and is prepared as follows: Take two parts of musk, two parts of saffron, three parts of sandal and one part of camphor. After smearing with the unguent, the devotee should worship with flowers. I shall mention those also.

47-52. The flowers are Pāṭalā, Mallikā, Lotus, Ketakī, Karavīra, Lilies, Rājacampa, Nandyāvarta, Jāti, Kumārī and Karṇikāra. If any flower is not available the leaf thereof can be used. If all these flowers are not available, the devotee should worship with some fragrant flowers that he can get.

In the month of Kārttika the following can be joyously offered as Naivedya to the goddess along with Vighneśvara: Karaṃbha (flour mixed with curds), rice mixed with curds, gruel with mango juice, Phaṇikās, Vaṭakas, milk pudding with sugar, rice with green gram and ghee. In the month of Māgha, Inderikā, Laḍḍus, and the splendid Lampasikā should be offered. In the month of Phālguna, Muṣṭikā with sugar within and fried in ghee should be offered as Naivedya. What is offered in ghee should be used for Ekabhakta (single meal). A devotee offering anything else as Naivedya or partaking of the same incurs downfall. He is deluded.

53-54. The devotee should continue to worship thus for a year, worshipping on the Tṛtīyā of every month. In order to complete the Vrata, the devotee should worship fire on the ground repeating Jātavedasa Mantra and offering gingelly seeds and clarified butter as well as monetary gifts. The devotee performing the Vrata should offer one hundred and eight Āhutis in accordance with the rules.

55. It is prescribed that the adoration is to be performed in the night always; the meal is taken always at nights. This Homa is also at night and Kṣamāpanā (request for forgiveness) is also at night.

56-61. Gaurī and Vināyaka are to be worshipped with these two Mantras: “O mother accept this devout adoration of mine along with that of Vighneśvara. Obeisance to you; O Viśvabhujā, fulfil my desire quickly. Obeisance to you, O destroyer of obstacles; obeisance, O Āśāvināyaka. You do grant me my desire along with Viśvabhujā.” At the time of concluding the Vrata, the following should be made over as gifts: a cot with cotton mattress, pillow, a doll for holding the lamp and a mirror.

The presiding preceptor and his wife should be made to sit on the cot and the devotee observing the Vrata should joyously honour them with garments, ornaments for the hands and ears, sweet scents, sandal-paste, garlands and monetary gifts. In order to make the Vrata perfect he should also give a milch cow, objects of utility and pleasure, umbrella, footwear and waterpot.

62-65. The Ācārya should be addressed thus: “This Vrata of Manoratha Tṛtīyā has been performed by me. If it is deficient or redundant, let it be perfectly balanced at your words (of blessings).” Then the devotee takes leave of the preceptor and the latter says, “So be it.” The devotee follows the preceptor till the external boundary (of the village etc.). Gifts are made to others also in accordance with the capacity of the devotee.

The night is spent along with the dependents in good humour. On the Caturthī day in the morning, four boys and twelve virgin girls are (to be) honoured with scented garlands and fed duly. Thus this pure Vrata becomes complete.

66-68. For the sake of realizing one’s wishes this excellent Vrata should be performed by all. A bachelor performing this Vrata for a full year will clearly acquire a pleasing wife belonging to a noble family. She will be closely following his mental predilections. She will be chaste and redeem him from the ocean of miserable worldly existence. A virgin will get a husband rich and endowed with all good qualities. An auspicious woman with a living husband will get sons and unobstructed (continuous) happiness of the husband.

69-70. An unfortunate woman will become fortunate; a poor one rich; a widow will never become a widow (in the next birth); a pregnant woman gives birth to a son of long life. A Brāhmaṇa will acquire learning which will confer all luck.

71. By resorting (observing) to this Vrata a dethroned king will regain his kingdom; a Vaiśya acquires profit; a Śūdra attains all that he wished for.

72. A seeker after piety acquires piety; one desirous of wealth will obtain wealth; a lustful man will get all that he loves and a seeker of salvation, salvation.

73. By performing the Vrata of Manoratha Tṛtīyā the devotees shall certainly get whatever desire is cherished by them.

Skanda said:

74. On hearing from Śiva thus, Śivā was delighted in her mind. With palms joined in reverence, she asked Viśveśa again:

75. “O Sadāśiva, if the devotees perform this Vrata elsewhere, how will they worship me and Āśāvināyaka?”

Śiva said:

76. You have asked pertinently, O goddess, who dispel all suspicious. O Viśvā, you are directly visible in Vārāṇasī and as such you should be worshipped there.

77. You will be worshipped along with Āśā-Vināyaka who fulfils all hopes and desires, who removes infinite number of obstacles and seeks the auspiciousness of my holy place.

78-79. Those who perform this Vrata elsewhere should fetch (all concerned persons) quickly, make obeisance to those who are far removed and make them contented with (the realization) of their desires. O Viśvā, they must make images of gold of yours as well as that of Vighneśvara with gold more in weight than five Kṛṣṇalakas (Rattīs).

80. The devotee should make a gift of both the images at the conclusion of the Vrata to the Ācārya. If this Vrata is performed (even) once, the performer of the Vrata shall become blessed and contented.

81. Then, O Goddess, after hearing of this excellent Vrata, Pulomajā performed it and realized her desire in the manner she had wished in her heart.

82. Vaśiṣṭha was obtained by Arundhatī and Atri by Anasūyā. Dhruva, the most excellent of all sons, was obtained by Sunīti from Uttānapāda.

83. The wretchedness and misery of Sunīti vanished by performing this Vrata again. The four-armed husband was acquired by Goddess Lakṣmī, the daughter of the Ocean of Milk.

84. Why need more be told? O lady of excellent hips, if this Vrata is performed by anyone, it is as though all the Vratas have been performed by him.

85. A sensible man should listen to this meritorious story with concentration of mind. He attains auspicious intellect and gets rid of all sins.