Legends and Significance of Anant Chaturdashi Vrat

Hi all,

as promised yesterday, I am to post about the Anant Chaturdashi Vrat 2008 which hindus (including me) observed today.

When I was small, people used to say that by fasting on this day, a girl would marry the one she loves. How far this is true, I really don’t know. My preparations in the morning was:

• wake up early.
•  take a shower.
•  prepare my prayer plate.
• offer prayer.

In Mauritius, it’s mostly women/girls who fast on this day, there’s very little men/boys, it might be due to what people used to say as I mentioned above. Those who observe this fast go by the riverside as from 9.00-10.00 am to do prayers and would return by 14.00hrs. However I didn’t go this year again, as I had my driving lesson.

Lately, I did some search about this fast online.

“The Anant Chaturdashi Vrat is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The observance of Ananta Vrata is believed to secure freedom from all sorrows. The word ‘Ananta’ means endless and devotees believe that Lord Narayana will clear all the difficulties in one’s life, if the Ananta Vrata is observed with utmost devotion. Some people observe this Vrata continuously for 14 years. The Ananta Shayna form of Lord Vishnu is worshipped on this day. The reclining posture represents the state of inactivity and is the form of Narayana prior to the evolution of the worlds and creation of the living beings.

Lakshmi & Vishnu

The main ritual on the day is the tying of a sacred thread. The thread is first sanctified by placing it along with the idol of Lord Vishnu in the reclining form (picture below). The thread is peppered with kum kum and then men tie it on their right hand and women on their left hand. This thread is referred as ‘Ananta Daram.’ In strict sense, Ananta Daram is a cotton band formed of fourteen threads. In some places, the band consists of 14 knots. Women tie the Anant Daram on their left hand and men on their right. Serpent Ananta is also made using Dhurva grass and is placed on a bamboo basket and worshipped in some places.” (Source: http://www.hindu-blog.com/2007/09/ananta-vrata-ritual-dedicated-to-lord.html)

I did not do all this…While offering my prayers, I simply placed my prayer plate at my Puja corner in respect to where the idol of Lord Vishnu is. I didn’t have Kum kum and so I used Abir to colour the thread and make 14 knots with it. After my prayers, I tied it to my left hand. And then went to keep the plate outside. And then Happy Fasting.

There is another good story about Anant Chaturdashi Vrat here.

Well, as you all know I had my 1st driving lesson today. And hopefully, I killed no-one….I even spared the little puppies and cats on the streets. I started in Plaine Verte and headed to Champ de Mars via Desforges Street. Then had several rounds of Champ De Mars and finally ended inside where my mum took over. My conclusion is : Driving is hyper fun.