[Essien Joy]

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In Hinduism, there is a practice called vrata which plays a significant role to the Hindus.

What does vrata mean?
The term vratas means a vow,devotion or a promise made to God.

Usually, it is a vow between a person to their God.

Let’s take this instance, a girl commits to worshiping at the temple on weekdays and begs God to heal her mother of cancer.

This is an example of a vrata.

Where does vrata originate from?
The word Vrata originated from the Vedic text of “Vr” meaning to choose and “rta” which means order. The word vrata is mainly associated with a person desires or wills.

A vrata may be,

1) Expiatory meaning “a vow taken to amend for wrongdoing”.

2) Obligatory meaning “a vow that is compulsory” a good example is the masha vows where monks vow to uplift their souls abstaining from all worldly enjoyments.

3) Honorary means a vow taken to show devotion towards a deity.

4) Voluntarily meaning a vow taken on a responsibility without restriction.

Classification of Vrata which include:

1. Duration of time: This type of vrata is classified based on the duration of time (ranging for a month to one day).  A vrata performed just for a day is called a dianvrata.

2. Ritual based Classification : A vow can depend on a type of ritual for example, “Prayaschitta” in an atonement is made for wrongdoings however when a child sins the guardian atone for their sin because a child is believed not to know what is good or right.

3. Classification of vrata based on a Deity: A vow is made to the specific God of worship.  For instance, Married ladies who seek good fortune, do karva Chauth Vrat, a devotion to Lord Visha and Goddess Parvati.  All the different types have several practices for vratas.

Some Observance in Vrata include:

1. Fast/upsavas: This is commonly practiced by women. It involves abstinence from food for a fixed period of time to declare your commitment and loyalty to a deity you worship.

2. Yajna: This is a form of sacrifice (Yajna) in which a ritual altar is used to make offerings of fire declaring allegiance to a deity.

3. Visiting a temple: Apart from fasting and other observance vratas can be observed in a sacred place which requires a pilgrim, or someone who visits a sacred place, would visit a temple as part of this tradition.

The God to whom a pledge was made is connected to the temple that was visited.
Vrata is observed as a form of self-correction and is observed to demonstrate commitment to religious principles.

Although it is mostly voluntary but also important to be observed in Hinduism.

Now you know what Vrata is, how do you feel about vrata?

You can share your views in the comment section. Let’s interact.

 

 

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