|
Dutiya Osha or Dutibahana Osha
The fast is observed on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the lunar
month of Ashwina for the fecundity of the luckless women. Women who are barren
or are delivering still-born children or whose children have died. Worship the
deified Dutibahana born of a Brahman widow and austerities by abstaining even
from water. Various fruits are offered to the goddess who is credited with many
great miracles.
Rai Damodar Varta And Panchuka
(Panchaka)
Hindu widows widely observe this fast in Odisha (Orissa) for twenty-five
days from the first day of the lunar month of karthika. In the locally
current myth, Rai, the daughter of the leader of the temple priests of
Lord Jagannath at Puri was married to the Lord and thus was deified. She
was granted a boon by the divine consort of the Lord Lakshmi that she
would be worshipped along with Lakshmi. The widows worship Damodar along
with Rai and Lakshmi by having only one meal of sun-dried rice, called
'havisha '. The last five days of this holy month are known as 'Bagapanchuka'.
During these five days only Lakshmi and Narayan was worshipped. During
the Panchuka days, married women also worship goddess Vrundavati at the
altar with the sacred basil plant, by decorating the place with beautiful
designs in multi-coloured powders made from indigenous herbs and other
materials.
Naga Chauthi Osha
This
fast is observed on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of
Karthika. Women worship naga serpent God Pingala in the form of a
snake image made of gold, silver or of rice paste near an ant-hill. The fast is
observed to protect the family members from snake-bite.
According to the myth, a merchant's wife had betrayed the trust of her
'Sangata'
and also the serpent Mother Goddess (Naga Matha). All her six sons died of snake
bite. The seventh son was married to a princess, who had faithfully observed
this fast and she had been blessed by Naga Matha to be 'Aisulakshmi' or the
virtuous wife whose husband would not die before she died. Therefore though her
husband was accursed and was bitten to death, he was restored to life along with
six elder brothers.
Kanji Amla Osha
This is held on the ninth day of the dark fortnight of the lunar month
of Margashira at the onset of cold season in Odisha (Orissa). The housewife
worship goddess Shathi whose image is placed among seven dried fishes decorated
with vermilon, collyrium and yellow rags. 'Kanji' (The peculiar soup made with
rice water cooked with vegetables) , Amalaki or Amla ( a sour berry) and dried
fish are invigorating in winter.
Chaiti Mangalabara Osha
Goddess Mangala is worshipped on Tuesdays in the lunar month of
Chaitra.
In the myth one untouchable women belonging to the scavenger community known as
'Chaiti' used to offer wine, meat and eggs to Mangala. She once saw the
inauspicious face of the Raja of the land and expressed her fear in disgust. The
Raja got all her sons crushed under a husking lever. But they were restored to
life by the grace of Mangala. The Raja learnt a lesson and his queen worshipped
Mangala and was blessed with sons.
Sudasha Vrata
Sudasha Varta is observed by women on the tenth day in bright fortnight
when it falls on Thursday. Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth is worshipped with
offering of 10 steamed rice cakes (manda) under great austerities. With sacred
thread of 10 strands, 10 knots are made praying to Lakshmi in her 10 forms and
numes and tying together 10 grains of raw-rice and 10 blades of durva grass in a
sacred leaf, an arm band is formed and worn for religious merit, prosperity and
well being. In the myth a King had got back his kingdom and wealth as his wife
observed Sudasha Vrata.
|
