Vrat in Dhanurmasam, Dhanurmasa Vrat Vidhanam, Dhanurmasa Vrat Puja Process, Dhanurmasa Puja.
The day the sun enters the Dhanu Rashi from that day onwards it is considered as Dhanurmas. Dhanurmas ends with the sun entering the Makara Rashi which is celebrated as Pongal or Makara Sankranti.
The 30 day period of Dhanurmas is considered highly sacred for the Vaishnavities. Women would observe the Dhanurmas Vrat.
How should perform the Dhanurmas Vrat
Devotees who seek a happy, long and prosperous life while alive and Salvation after death. Devotees who are in trouble and looking for a Vrat that can rescue them out of troubles should observe the Dhanurmas Vrat.
Process of Dhanurmas Vrat
Preperations for Dhanurmas Vrat
Devotees who wish to perform the Dhanurmas Vrat have to get an idol of Lord Vishnu prepared. The idol of Lord Vishnu can be prepared either of Gold or Silver or Copper. The metal that is used for preparation of the idol is left to the capacity (financial state)of the devotee.
A mandap has to be made ready in which the Lord Vishnu would be worshipped. Lord Vishnu has to be worshipped with the name of Lord Madhusudhana.
Rules and Regulations of the Vrat
The following are the set of rules and regulations for observing the Vrat. The following is the daily routine that a devotee has to follow while observing the Vrat.
1) Should get up early in the morning atleast 2 hours before sun rise or 5 Ghatis before sunrise.
2) Finish his daily routines
3) Perform head bath
4) Perform his daily Sandhya Vandanam , then his daily Puja.
After this he can start the Puja of the Dhanurmasa Vrat.
Different kinds of materials needed to bath Lord Madhusudhana
Pancha Amruta, Cows Milk,Coconuts, Coconut water, Pongal/Pulagam, Dhadhojanam or Curd Rice.
How to perform the Puja
As a part of the Puja Lord Madhusudhana would be bathed with enchanting the Mantras. Lord Madhusudhana has to be bathed with Pancha Amruta which means a mix of Milk, Curd, Ghee, Sugar and Honey.
Lord Madhusudhana has to be bathed with Cows Milk separately and also with Coconut water. The bath is better performed if all these are filled into the Shankam or Conch and then poured on the Lord.
Lord Madhusudhana has to be worshipped with the leaves of the Tulasi or Basal plant. The leaves should not be individual but each branch should have three leaves. If it has three leaves it is called as a Dalam. Lord Madhusudhana should be worshipped with Tulasi Dalams.
After which the Lord has to be worshipped with different kinds of flowers.
All the above, worshipping with Tulasi or Basil leaves and flowers can be performed while reciting either the Ashtotara Setha Namavali or Sahasranamam of Lord Vishnu.
Naivedyam or Offering to Lord Madhusudhana for Dhanurmasa Vrat
As a part of the Puja of Dhanurmas Vrat Lord Madhusudhana has to be offered Pongal made out of sugar which is commonly known as Chekkara Pongali. This Pongal offering is made for the first fifteen days of Dhanurmasa. Devotees can also offer Pulagam, a mixture of Rice and Moong Dal (Pesara Papu) cooked.
The remaining fifteen days, Dadhojanam or Curd Rice is offered to Lord Madhusudhana.
After these the following are to be offered to the Lord Madhusudhana as a a part of Dhanurmas Vrat.
Dhupa : Lighting of Incense sticks
Deepa : Showing or lighting a Diya
Dakshina : Give Dakshina or money to Brahmin
Tamboolam: Given at the last. Betel nut over the Betel Nut leaves.
After the 30 days of Dhanurmas Vrat the idol has to be donated to a Brahmin reciting the following sloka
“Madhusudhana Devesha Dhanurmasa Phalaprada
Thava Murthy Pradhanena Mama Santhi Manoradhaah”
The Brahmin should respond blessing you by saying
“Indira Prathi Gruhnathu.”
It is believed that all the wishes for which you have performed the Vrat will be fulfilled after receiving the blessing from the Brahmin.
Benefits of Observing the Dhanurmas Vrat:
It is also believed that the man who observes Dhanurmas Vrat will live happily with all wealth and prosperity for the rest of his life in this world and would get Moksha or Salvation after death.
