Dr. Shanker Adawal
Though the rules concerning the vratas had been very much liberalized to embrace as large a segment of the society as possible, there had to be some rules guiding the whole process in order to protect and preserve the sanctity of the ritual system itself. These may be summarized as follows:
During the period of the observance of a vrata, one should keep one’s person clean and pure, observe celibacy, speak the truth, practice forbearance, avoid non-vegetarian foods and scrupulously perform all the rituals connected with it.
Once a vrata is undertaken, it should never be left unfinished nor a new one started before completing it. But, one should never start the observance while in ashaucha ceremonial impurity brought about by birth or death in one’s family.
Persons too old or too sick can get the vrata performed for them by the close relatives if they are willing.
Once the decision is taken to perform a vrata, the actual, commencement should be made only as per the auspicious time, place and mode laid down by the books.
Now we will know about some specific Vrats for the elimination of Kuja Dosha, such as : 1) Mangal Vrat; 2) Mangala Gauri Vrat; 3) Vat Savitri Vrat; and 4) Sacred Gauri Vrat.
Mangal Vrat
Manglik persons or those who are suffering from the evils of Mars regarding the absence of conjugal bliss owing to any reason, or the possibility of loss of life of the partner or separation, or otherwise those who are leading miserable married life due to the adversity of Mars must observe Vrat on Tuesday in the following way:-
First of all shodashashopchar Poojan of Mars should be done as explained above with full faith, devotion and dedication. Certain specification, norms, methods and stories have been mentioned in various texts on Vrats. Here we will be discussing all important points of Mangal Vrat i.e. observation of Vrat on Tuesdays. We want to draw the attention of such readers that Vrat on Tuesday does not mean the Vrat of Hanumanji. Mangal Vrat may be observed to please Mangal graham, Mata Durga or any of her incarnation and to please Hanumanji as well. Here we are mostly concerns with the Vrat on Tuesday to prevent the adversity cast by planet Mars. The girls or ladies who are suffering or may suffer due to the evil effects of Mars in their birth charts or if they have Kuja Dosha and get married with a non-Manglik boy, must observe Vrat on Tuesdays.
The Sankalp should be taken by keeping rice, water, betel nuts, flowers and money in the right palm facing towards east or west. Thereafter the contents in the hand should be put in front of Ganapati Devta. After Sankalp Shodshopchar Poojan of Ganapati and Mangal Graha is essential. Without Ganapati Pooja, the n ative is not bestowed with the good results. This is well-established fact that Agrapooja or Ganpati is most essential before offering any other worship to the concerning powere of planets or God.
During Mangal Vrat one may take a glass of milk, tea or juice in the morning after the above Sankalp and worship etc. Thereafter one should take `Choorma” (made of wheat flour and jiggery) between 12 noon to 3 p.m. If one does not want to take Choorma due to any reason he or she may eat sweet fruits or sweets instead. The salt of any kind is strictly prohibited in Mangal Vrat. Any fruits which contain salt, should not be taken. After completing the Vrat one should sing Aarti of Mars before going to bed. If it is very essential one may take one or two fruits after Aarti and before going to bed.
Mangal Vrat should be observed for at least one year. But the Vrat can be extended for 5 years or for whole of the life as advised by Guru or Acharya or by any competent astrologer. After completing the Vrat of Mars, Udyapan is required. It means that the devotee is terminating the Mangal Vrat now onwards. He begets pardon for his mistakes and donates to Brahmins.
Mangala Gauri Vrat
Mangala Gauri Vrat is very common in Maharashtra. This Vrat should be observed by married women, so that they may never suffer widowhood; so that they may enjoy the association of their husbands and may lead a pleasant and happy married life.
The Vrat should be observed for five years on each and every Tuesday commending from first Tuesday of Shraavan. After successful completion of five years of Mangala Gauri Vrat, the same may be observed on Tuesdays of Shraavan Maas only i.e. 4 times in a year during the month of Shraavan only.
First of all Sthapana of Mangala Gauri should be done. Navgraha and Matrikaa Kalash etc should also be properly placed facing towards north. Shodoshopachar Poojan should be done of all these including Mangala Gauri. Thereafter the story of Mangala Gauri Vrat is read and heard and take the Prasad. After completing the Sankalp, worship of Mangal Gauri, touch the ground after removing the mat or Aasan and touch your forehead.
Vat Savitri Vrat
This is the most useful, common and well-known Vrat for the long and healthy life of husband. Manglik girls and married manglic women must observe this Vrat for everlasting conjugal bliss. This Vrat is observed from Amavasya day of the month of Jyestha. In this Vrat, worship of the banyan tree of or Vat Vraksha which is the strongest tree and has a very long life is performed.
First of all the girl should prepare small spherical sweets by frying them. Honey should be mixed in wheat flour and as many as 108 round shaped (shape of Vat Vriksha) sweets should be made and thereafter they should be fried. They should be poured in a thread like a garland. Poori and Halwa should also be made for Prasad. Water soaked grams (bheega hua desi chana) should also be included in the Prasad. Take the container; keep the garland of fried small sweets, Poori, Halwa and grains along with Roli, Sindoor, rice, flowers, Ghee, Dhoop, Deep, Camphor, red cloth, Gur, Haldi, various sweets and money etc. One should go to Vat Virksha taking this container along with water in any vessel. Stem of the Vat Vriksha should be properly washed and Shodhopchar i.e. 16 fold worship must be done. First of all the earthen lamp of pure ghee should be lighted thereafter Shodshopchar Poojan should be performed one by one.
After Shodshopchar Poojan and worship, prayers should be made by the women for their Akhand Saubhagya i.e. long life of the husband. After observing the Vrat for whole of the day, the lady should take sweets and fruits or meal with one cereal. `Bayana should also be taken out and should be given to mother-in-law or sister-in-law, if they are available. If they are not available, Bayana should be given to any married woman whose husband is alive.
The Vat Savitri Vrat is observed once in a year, but its significance is so important that any lady should never miss it. After performing this Vrat the lady should also touch the feet of her husband and the husband should bless her for her Akhand Saubhagya.
Sacred Gauri Vrat
There is a very detailed account of our Puranas on this rare and most efficacious Vrat or vow for Gauri (Parvati). One who reads of recites this story every day, for one year, will get worthy spouse.
It is deemed that this Vrat has been in place since remote past by tradition. This Vrat grants husbands as desired by women i.e. according to their genuine wishes. By this Vrat, a woman obtains a highly affectionate husband. A girl (i.e. the aspirant) should fast on the previous day (i.e. before commencement of the month concerned), wash off the clothes (to be used the next day) and lead a restrained life. On the next day i.e. on the day of the month of Margasira commences (i.e. Shukal Paksh, Padyami, or the first lunar day of the bright half of Margasira month, with the Nirayana Sun transiting in Scorpio), she should take bath in near by river and wear the previously washed robes. In a sacred pot, the six prescribed deities viz. Ganesha, Surya, Agni (fire), Vishnu, Siva and Durga should be invoked after worshipping them with various articles offering the five kinds of Upacharas (oblations like clothes and ornaments). Before the Kalasa (sacred pot), a square vedi (i.e. square area of ground to serve for sacrificial altar, having receptacles for the sacrificial fire) should be prepared. Sandal, incense, Kasturi (musk) and Kumkuma (vermillion) should be applied on the Vedi. An idol of Durga with ten arms should be got made of sand. A mark of saffron should be applied on the forehead of the idol, and an offer of camphor and sandal should also be made on the other part of the body of the idol. The goddess should be invoked with prayers. Then the following Mantra should be recited.
The idol of Durga should be worshipped with the above cited Mantra, after taking a Sankalpa (resolution) along with the following Moola Mantra, stipulated in Saama Veda.
Reciting these Mantras, the goddess should be prayed with the most secretive prayers conjoined even to the most excellent of sages. Men of attainment pray to Durga, the destroyer of evil manifestations, on these lines.