When is Kokila Vrat observed?
Kokila vrat (fast) is observed in an auspicious time-period of one month from Ashadha Purnima to Shravan Purnima. In some areas of India, this vrat is kept only in the year, when adhik ashada occurs. While in some areas of India, this fast is observed every year. Also, there is discrepancy in celebration only on Purnima (full moon day) or on Panchami (fifth lunar day of Ashada Krshna paksha) or for the full month. However, this year Kokila Panchami Vrat is falling on 29th June 2021.
Why is Kokila Vrat observed?
Women doing this fast are blessed by Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati with Akhand Saubhagya and unmarried ones get loving and caring husband.
Kokila in Sanskrit means nightingale bird. In this vrat, Goddess Sati and Lord Shiva are worshipped. Kokila vrat has a foundation in Hindu mythology as it was first observed by Goddess Parvati. Event dates to the yajna of Daksha Prajapati who was father of goddess Sati. Daksha did not invite Devi Sati and Lord Shiva in the Yajna. But when Sati attended the event against Lord Shiva’s permission, Daksha insulted them, and Sati immolated herself in the yajna.
Although lord Shiva, angrily destroyed the yajna but also cursed Devi Sati to live in forest for ten thousand years in the form of nightingale (kokila), deserting her for being displeased with her. So, before she was born as Parvati, she spent ten thousand years as kokila bird. To again get Lord Shiva as her husband, she observed this fast.
How to observe Kokila Vrat?
For keeping Kokila fast, women wake up early in the morning and take bath in nearby river or water body. They make an idol of Kokila bird with clay and worship it along with Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati with a sankalpa mantra-
“mamadhanadhān’ya sahita saubhāgyaprāptayē
śivatuṣṭayē ca kōkilāvratamahaṁ kariṣyē”
“Hari Om Tat Sat”
