Talk:Reducing Bad Karm and Adding Good Karm:Augmenting Good Karm:Vrata or Religious Vows

By Vishal Agarwal

A contemporary scholar defines the nature and purpose of vratas in the following words –

“The word ‘vrata’ underscores determination, firmness in what we are doing. First, we should look up the specific actions that accompany a particular penance and make sure we perform all those actions. Generally, during a vrata period, we should avoid drinking water frequently, sleeping in the afternoon, chewing paan, and cohabitation. The mind should constantly dwell on the devatā for whom the vrata is being observed….”

The two major vratas are fasting, and mauna (observing a period of silence).