Listen now to the sacred teachings as revealed in the Garuda Purana, weaving the wisdom of time and observance. The reckoning of months is rooted in the sun’s transit: the solar month, counted as twenty-seven days, is not based on the stars. This solar month is prescribed for auspicious events such as marriages and the commencement of sacrifices, while the lunar month is reserved for religious observances. Certain days are paired with divine associations: the days linked to fire, the six sages, the Vasu and Andhra days, as well as the twelfth day joined with Rudra, the fourteenth day, and the full moon, are all specified for their significance. When the first day and the new moon coincide, the results can be profound; yet this mixed occurrence is most inauspicious, capable of destroying merit previously acquired. For women, if menstrual blood appears during a vow begun with austerity, it interrupts the observance. While charitable acts may still be performed, bodily observances must be undertaken personally. If a vow is broken due to anger, negligence, or greed, one must fast for three days and shave the head as atonement. Should the body be incapable, sons or others may fulfill the vow. If a Brahmin observing a vow faints, water and other remedies are to be administered. Now begins the explanation of the sacred vows, starting from the first day, as Brahma spoke to Vyasa. The Śikhi vow is said to lead to the realm of Vaiśvānarapada. On the first day, one eats only once and, at its conclusion, gives a brown cow. Beginning in the month of Chaitra, worship of Brahma is to be performed with fragrant flowers, offerings, garlands, and delightful gifts. Through oblations and worship, the devotee attains all desires. In the month of Kartika, on the bright eighth day, one should offer flowers for a year, and by giving flowers and other offerings, beauty is attained. On the third day of the dark fortnight in Shravana, worship of Śrīdhara with wealth is prescribed. One should perform worship upon an empty bed, offer its fruit to a twice-born Brahmin, and, after giving the bed, pray: “Salutations to Śrīdhara, homage to Śrī.” On the third day, worship is to be done for Umā, Śiva, and Agni, offering cooked food and damanaka as naivedya. At the beginning of Caitra, one attains the fruit spoken by Umā. Whoever avoids salt on the third day from Phālguna onward, at the conclusion, should give a bed and a house furnished with utensils, honoring the Brahmin couple with the prayer: “May Bhavānī be pleased.” Such a devotee dwells eternally in the realm of Gaurī, attaining supreme auspiciousness. The goddesses Gaurī, Kālī, Umā, Bhadrā, Durgā, Kānti, Sarasvatī, Maṅgalā, Vaiṣṇavī, Lakṣmī, Śivā, and Nārāyaṇī, in their order, grant blessings beginning from the third day of the lunar path, freeing one from separation and bestowing other blessings. On the fourth day, at the start of the bright Māgha, one should fast and observe vows. After giving sesame seeds to a Brahmin, one partakes of sesame water oneself. Completion of this observance occurs in two years, bringing uninterrupted fulfillment. The root mantra “gaḥ svāhā,” accompanied by the praṇava, is to be used. Specific mantras are prescribed for the heart, head, crown, armor, eyes, invocation, and other rites, each with its own syllables and meaning. For arrival, the mantra “olkāya” is used; for the group, “ganandholkaḥ”; for flowers, “puṣpolko”; for incense, “dhūpakolkakaḥ”; for lamps, “dīpolkāya”; for great offerings, “maholkāya”; for sacrifice and the removal of obstacles, “sidedholkāya.” For the Gāyatrī, nyāsa is declared beginning with the thumb, and the meditation is upon the great-eared one, the one with a twisted trunk, seeking inspiration from Danti. Worship is to be performed for these groups with offerings of sesame and oblations, invoking Gaṇa, Gaṇapati, and Kūṣmāṇḍaka with “svāhā.” Further worship is offered to Amogholka, Ekadanta, and the destroyer of Tripura, with the mantra: “Om, salutations to the dark-toothed, fierce-faced, trembling one.” To Padmadaṃṣṭā, “svāhā” is given, and at the end, the mudrā is the dance among the Gaṇas; clapping hands and laughter bring the fruit of auspiciousness and more. In Mārgaśīrṣa, on the bright fourth day, one should worship the Gaṇa. For a year, this brings knowledge, prosperity, fame, longevity, and offspring. On Monday, on the fourth day, fasting and worship of the Gaṇa is prescribed, and through recitation, offerings, and remembrance, one attains heaven and liberation. Whoever worships on the bright fourth day with khaṇḍa, laḍḍuka, and modaka, removing all obstacles, attains all desires and auspiciousness. For sons and others, with damanaka, and on the fourth day called Damanaka, the mantra “Om, salutations to Gaṇapati” is to be used, worshipping the Gaṇa until the end of the fourth day. In whichever month one offers oblations, recites, or remembers, all desires are fulfilled and all obstacles are destroyed. If one worships Vinayaka, the foremost among forms, with these names, one attains the highest state and the joys of heaven and liberation. The names to be invoked are: Gana-pūjya, Vakratunda, Ekadantī, Triyambaka, Nīlagrīva, Lambodara, Vikaṭa, Vighnarājaka, Dhūmravarṇa, Bhālacandra, Vināyaka, Gaṇapati, and Hastimukha. One should worship the twelve-formed Gaṇa, and the wise, whether separately or all together, will obtain all desires, especially on the auspicious fifth day in Śrāvaṇa, Āśvina, Bhādrapada, and Kārtika. The Nāgas are also to be worshipped: Vāsuki, Takṣaka, Kāliya, Maṇibhadra, Airāvata, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Karkoṭaka, and Dhanañjaya. When bathed with ghee and similar offerings, they bestow long life, health, and prosperity. Ananta, Vāsuki, Śaṅkha, Padma, and Kambala, as well as Karkāṭaka, Nāga, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Śaṅkhaka, Kāliya, Takṣaka, and Piṅgala, are worshipped month by month. One should worship the eight Nāgas on the dark half of Bhādrapada to attain liberation and heaven. Their images should be drawn on both sides of the doorway, and in Śrāvaṇa, worship them on the bright half. On the fifth day, one should worship the Nāgas—Ananta and the great serpents—offering milk and ghee as food, which removes all poison. The Nāgas are shown with hands granting fearlessness, and the fifth day removes snakebite. Brahma then said: In the month of Bhādrapada, one should especially worship Kārtikeya; all acts of bathing, giving, and the like performed then are said to be inexhaustible. On the seventh day, one should feed the brāhmaṇas and worship the Sun, reciting: “Om khakholkāya, immortality, may there always be dear union, svāhā.” Thus, by following the sacred calendar and observing these rituals with devotion and reverence, one attains auspiciousness, fulfillment of desires, liberation, and the blessings of the divine.