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While he was thinking thus, a weapon from his father appeared there and with that Svara was churned. While churning, the fourfaced saw the head appearing like a coconut fruit covered in a tenfold way. He cut it off like a sesamum plant. He then cut off what had become rootless and there arose the 10 indriyas (5 jnanendriyas and 5 karmendriyas) and the five elements viz. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. He cut them again and a small object, 1/10th of the original size appeared. When that too was cut off, another small one arose, white and calm. In that, the four-faced saw his own father, small like a molecule and indistinct. And became happy and so did the father Svara.

While he was thinking thus, a weapon from his father appeared there and with that Svara was churned. While churning, the fourfaced saw the head appearing like a coconut fruit covered in a tenfold way. He cut it off like a sesamum plant. He then cut off what had become rootless and there arose the 10 indriyas (5 jnanendriyas and 5 karmendriyas) and the five elements viz. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. He cut them again and a small object, 1/10th of the original size appeared. When that too was cut off, another small one arose, white and calm. In that, the four-faced saw his own father, small like a molecule and indistinct. And became happy and so did the father Svara.

This was the earliest story of origin narrated to Raja Bhadrashva by Rshi Agastya and it is said that the one who understands its significance, performs true action.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>एषेतिहासः प्रथमः सर्वस्य जगतो भृशम् । य इमं वेत्ति तत्त्वेन साक्षात् कर्मपरो भवेत् ।। ५३.२६ ।।<ref name=":1" />

This was the earliest story of origin narrated to Raja Bhadrashva by Rshi Agastya and it is said that the one who understands its significance, performs true action.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>एषेतिहासः प्रथमः सर्वस्य जगतो भृशम् । य इमं वेत्ति तत्त्वेन साक्षात् कर्मपरो भवेत् ।। ५३.२६ ।।<ref name=":1" /> eṣetihāsaḥ prathamaḥ sarvasya jagato bhr̥śam । ya imaṁ vetti tattvena sākṣāt karmaparo bhavet ।। 53.26 ।।</blockquote>

eṣetihāsaḥ prathamaḥ sarvasya jagato bhr̥śam । ya imaṁ vetti tattvena sākṣāt karmaparo bhavet ।। 53.26 ।।</blockquote>Bhadraiva said:

It is said that the vrata to propitiate Visnu was once told by the great Narada to the Apsaras.

=== Who should be worshipped by a person desirous of getting knowledge and how he should be worshipped. ===

On the Shukla paksha dvadashi day of Vasanta, Vishnu should be worshipped at night in the prescribed manner by fasting. Making a circle of red flowers around Vishnu, the whole night should be spent without sleep but with dance and music, both vocal and instrumental. Worshipping the deity's head as Bhava, waist as Ananga, hands as Kama, stomach as Sushastra, feet as Manmatha and the whole body as Hari, the devotee should bow in all directions. In the morning, the vrata is concluded after propitiating a Vaidika Brahmana who is devoid of bodily defects with gifts.

2. Lord Visnu alone is to be worshipped by all always, even by Devas. I shall tell you the means by which one can get boons from him.

It is said that as a result of observing this vrata, one obtains Vishnu as one's husband.<ref name=":0" />

3. He is the ultimate truth conveyed by the Vedas and sought by sages and the common people, and He is the Supreme God. Worshipping him will never be in vain.

In this manner Rshi Agastya begins to enumerate the various vratas by which one may attain Vishnu as follows:

 

 

 

9. On the auspicious DvadasI day in the suklapaksa in Vasanta (spring season), one should fast and worship Visnu at night in the prescribed manner.

 

 

11. The (lord's) head should be worshipped as Bhava, the waist as Anaiiga, the hands as Kama, the belly as Susastra, the feet as Manmatha, and the whole body as Hari.

 

 

 

 

 

==== Shubhavrata ====

==== Shubhavrata ====