Arundhati Fasting is undertaken on the Tritiya of Chaitra Shukla Paksha. Arundhati was the daughter of Maharishi Kardam and the wife of Vashista. She is as much venerated as Vashista. The fast in her honour is undertaken by women, with the benevolent results of development of their character, encouragement in the pursuit of their ideals and blessings against early widowhood.
The fast is for three days from first Chaitra Shukla to third Chaitra Shukla. On the first day, one must wash and purify the body. On the second day; image of Arundhati, Vashista and Dhruv are installed on a heap of new crop of rice. Ganesha is worshipped first and later all the three others. On the last day, Gaurishanakar (Parvati and Shiva) are worshipped. "Om Namo Shivaye" and Gayatri mantra are enchanted.
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| Arundhati Fasting |
Once Shiva and Parvati came down to earth and saw a widow young Brahmin woman, undergoing severe austerities on the bank of the river Yamuna. On Parvati's asking, Shiva replied, "This woman, in her previous birth had committed adultery and as a result, she has become a widow at an early age, in this birth." On Parvati's seeking a remedy for a curse, Shiva advised that if she observes her chastity virtuously and undertakes Arundhati fast, she can regain a good married life in next birth. Parvati passed on the advice to that widow, who followed the advice religiously and had a good life in next birth.
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