Vratas (fasts) as given in the scriptures

Hindu Fasts: Day Fast

Said The God Of Fire:-Now I shall describe the process of performing the Divasa Vratas. First hear me discourse on the process of practising a Dhenu Vrata (a cow-giving Vrata), which should be practised by making the gift of a cow, whose mouth and tail had been covered over with plated gold. The penitent should drink clarified butter only on the day of its observance, whereby he would attain an elevated station in the next world. Similarly, by living simply on clarified butter for three consecutive days, and by making the gift of a golden Kalpa tree, a man attains the Supreme Brahma. By making the gift of a twenty two Pala weights of earth encased in a golden casket, a man goes to the region of Rudra. Brahmanas should be feasted, and gifts of clothes, beddings, seats, umbrellas, vessels, and holy threads, should be made to them with the following prayer. “May all that which has been made defective in this difficult vrata, through my ignorance or omission, be remediaed and made up, through your gracious benediction.” A man by practising such a Vrata, ascends the region of Vishnu, after a long and prosperous career on earth.

Now I shall describe the process of practising the Karticka Vrata, which grants enjoyment of earthly pleasures, and salvation after death. The Vrati should eat only the composition known as the Panchagavya, on the day of the tenth phase of the moon’s in- crease in the month of Karticka, fast on the following day, and worship the god Vishnu, whereby he would go to the region presided over by that deity. By making gifts of five goats to a Brahmana and by breaking his fast in the night for three consecutive days, a man attains the highest felicity. In the Vrata, known as the Krichachah Mahendra, the Vrata should drink milk only for the first three nights, fast on the next three, and practise the Vrata on the day of the sixth phase of the moon’s increase in the month of Karticka.

Similarly in the form, known as the Krichachah Bhaskara, the penitent should live on curd on the day of the eleventh phase of the moon’s increase in the month of Karticka, and drink milk on the next five days, whereby he would acquire immense wealth In the Santapana Vrata, the diet of the penitent should consist of wheat, articles made of wheat potherbs curd, thickened milk, clarified butter and water, on the day of the fifth phase of the moon.