Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77
द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्
Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months
तत्र दुर्गाचनं प्रोक्तं सव्रैरप्युपचारकैः । उपवासं चैकभक्तं महाष्टम्यां विधाय तु ॥ ७७ ॥
tatra durgācanaṃ proktaṃ savrairapyupacārakaiḥ | upavāsaṃ caikabhaktaṃ mahāṣṭamyāṃ vidhāya tu || 77 ||
அங்கே தேவீ துர்கையின் வழிபாடு, எல்லா உபசாரங்களும் அர்க்யாதி சேவைகளும் உடன் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. மஹாஷ்டமியில் நோன்பிருந்து ‘ஏகபக்த’ முறையைப் பின்பற்றி, பின்னர் விதிப்படி செயலைத் தொடங்க வேண்டும்.
Narada (teaching in a prescriptive, anukramaṇikā-style summary)
Vrata: Mahāṣṭamī (Durgā observance within Navarātra frame)
Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)
Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)
FAQs
It emphasizes disciplined devotion: Durgā is to be worshipped with complete ritual attentiveness (upacāras) and inner austerity through fasting, aligning the body and mind for śakti-upāsanā.
Bhakti here is expressed through pūjā (Durgārcana) supported by vrata—upavāsa and ekabhakta—showing devotion as both loving worship and self-restraint.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) and basic tithi-based observance are implied: Mahāṣṭamī (the eighth lunar day) is the timing, and upacāras outline the practical structure of the worship.