Vrata (Vow)
వ్రతం
Sanskrit: व्रत · Category: Ritual
Quick Definition
A religious vow or fast — usually performed on specific tithis or for specific deities.
Detailed Explanation
Vratas range from simple (skipping one meal) to elaborate (multi-day fasts with specific rules). Famous vratas: Ekadashi Vrata, Mahashivaratri Vrata, Karva Chauth, Varalakshmi Vrata, Satyanarayan Vrata, Pradosh Vrata. Each vrata has prescribed katha (story), puja, and parana (breaking) rituals.
See Also
Related Terms
Author & Sources
Compiled by Pandit Ramachandra Sharma, Vedic Astrologer & Panchangam Scholar. Definitions cross-referenced against classical texts: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Muhurta Chintamani, Surya Siddhanta, Gṛhya Sūtras. See the full Vedic Glossary for 58 terms across Panchanga, Astrology, Calendar, Dosha, Ritual, and Sanskara categories.