pAshupata vrata - 1

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Extracted from Kamakoti mandali.

Full essay is in the link but in subjective inappropriate comments

were edited out.

http://www.kamakotimandali.com/misc/pashuapatavrata.html

2 more posts will follow

 

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The original form of worship of pashupati is rooted in atharvaNa

veda....

The six, eleven and fifteen lettered mantras, described as laghu

pAshupata, pAshupata and mahApAshupata, respectively associated with

rudra, sadAshiva and paramashiva, are mantras of great potency.

 

The vrata should be commenced on shukla chaturdashI of the desired

month. The most desirable day would be a chaturdashI that falls on an

ArdrA yukta somavAsara. One should perform bhUta shuddhi and

contemplate on the laya of the elements in their reverse order of

evolution. One should perform sankalpa for the vrata and establish

agni according to svashAkhA. One should fast, adorn himself with

white clothing, upavIta etc.

 

upoShitaH shuchiH snAtaH shuklAmbaradharaH svayam |

shuklayaj~nopavItashcha shuklamAlyAnulepanaH ||

 

He should then perform homa (samidAjyacharUniti dravyatrayam) with

the virajA mantras:

 

prANApAnavyAnodAnasamAnA me shuddhyantAm jyotiraham virajA vipApmA

bhUyAsaM svAhA || etc.

 

The samaropaNa of the agni into the Self should be performed with the

mantra yA te agne yajniyA tanUH. The Homa bhasma should be collected

and clarified with the mantra, agniriti bhasma. The bhasma should

then be worn on lalATa and other body parts.

 

shivamantreNa vA dhAryaM gAyatryA praNavena vA ||

 

One can use shaiva mantra, gAyatrI or shuddha praNava (yathAdhikAra)

to wear the bhasma. According to sampradAya, sapraNava panchAkShara

mantra, prAsAda dvitaya, laghu pAshupata and mahApAshupata are the

mantras used to wear bhasma on the twelve body parts. One should then

recite the mUla mantra (or gAyatrI) followed by shiva sahasranAma

(padma purANa gives a version (vedasArAkhya) and it seems logical to

assume that the instruction here refers to reciting that particular

version). This is the bhasma snAna prescribed for a dvija and is

capable of destroying all sins.

 

agnivIryaM yato bhasma vIryavAn bhasmasaMyutaH |

bhasmasnAnarato vipro bhasmashAyI jitendriyaH |

sarvapApavinirmuktaH shivasAyujyamApnuyAt ||

 

rudrAkSha dhAraNa, shivalingArchana etc. are other aspects of this

vrata. However, pAshupata dIkSha, which is described variously,

should be taken from a competent guru before undertaking the sacred

vow.

 

aShTAdashabhujaM dhyAyenmahApAshupateshvaram ||

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