Various Types of Vrat and Fasts;  How they Destroy Sins?

Vrat and Fasts
See  such Vrat in  " Vrat Fasts-Types"

Pushkar Jee said to Parashuraam Jee - "Now I tell you about the Praayashchit of Gupt (secret, or hidden) sins --

(1) Who does Jaap of Purush Sookt for one month, his all Paap are washed away.
(2) Aghamarshan Mantra Jaap frees from all kinds of sins.
(3) Ved Mantra, Vaayu Sookt, Yam Sookt, and Gaayatree Mantra Jap wash all sins of the person.
(4) In all Krichchhra Vrat one should not shave head. He should take bath, do Havan and worship Hari. Whoever is doing Krichchhra Vrat, if he stands in the day time, and sit in the night time, it is called "Veeraasan". A man becomes sinless by doing this Vrat.
(5) If a man takes only 8 morsels food for 1 month - it is called "Yati Chaandraayan" Vrat.
(6) If a man takes 4 morsels food in the morning and 4 morsels food in the evening for 1 month - it is called "Shishu Chaandraayan" Vrat.
(7) If somebody takes 240 Pind (morsels) in any way in 1 month - this is the method of "Sur Chaandraayan" Vrat.
(8) If somebody drinks warm water for 3 days, warm milk for 3 days, warm Ghee for 3 days and Vaayu (air) for 3 days - it is called "Tapt Krichchhra" Vrat. And if somebody drinks the same things cold in the same sequence - it is called "Sheet Krichchhra" Vrat.
(9) If somebody takes only milk for 21 days - it is called "Krichchhraati-Krichchhra" Vrat.
(10) If one lives by taking cow's urine, cow dung, cow's milk, cow's yogurt, cow's Ghee and Kush-water one day and keep complete fast the second day - it is called "Krichchhra Saantapan" Vrat.
(11) If the above things are taken one by one each day - it is called "Mahaa Saantapan" Vrat.
(12) And if the same things are taken one by one for 3 days each - it is called "Ati Saantapan" Vrat.
(13) If somebody lives without eating for 12 days - it is called "Paraak Krichchhra" Vrat.
(14) If somebody eats for 3 days in the morning, 3 days in the evening, 3 days without asked food (A-Yaachit) and keep complete fast in the last 3 days - it is called "Praajaapatya" Vrat.
(15) If only one part of this Vrat (3 days in the morning, or 3 days in the evening, or 3 days without asked food (A-Yaachit), or keeping complete fast in the last 3 days) is done - it is called "Krichchhrapaad" Vrat.
(16) When only fruits are eaten for 1 month - it is called "Phal Krichchhra" Vrat.
(17) When only Bel fruit is eaten for 1 month - it is called "Shree Krichchhra" Vrat.
(18) When only Padmaaksh (Kamalgattaa) fruit is eaten for 1 month - it is called "Padmaaksh Krichchhra" Vrat.
(19) When only Aamalaa fruit is eaten for 1 month - it is called "Aamalak Krichchhra" Vrat.
(20) When only flower is eaten for 1 month - it is called "Pushp Krichchhra" Vrat.
(21) When only leaves are eaten for 1 month - it is called "Patra Krichchhra" Vrat.
(22) When only water is taken for 1 month - it is called "Jal Krichchhra" Vrat.
(23) When only Mool (roots) is eaten for 1 month - it is called "Mool Krichchhra" Vrat.
(24) When only yogurt is eaten for 1 month - it is called "Dadhi Krichchhra" Vrat.
(25) When only milk is taken for 1 month - it is called "Dugdh Krichchhra" Vrat.
(26) When only one Anjuli (whatever fits in one hand) food is taken for 1 month - it is called "Vaayavya Krichchhra" Vrat.
(27) If somebody eats only sesame seeds (Til) for 12 days - it is called "Aagneya Krichchhra" Vrat. This Vrat removes all sorrows.
(28) Take one Pasar (when two palms are joined together, whatever fits in that space is called Pasar) Laaj (Kheel or puffed rice) everyday for 13 days, and keep complete fast on the 14th day and the 15th day (Amaavasyaa or Poornimaa); then eat food of Havishya Ann after drinking Panchgavya. This Vrat is called " Brahm Koorch" Vrat. If somebody does this Vrat 2 times in 1 month, he gets freed from all kinds of sins.

Whoever worships Devtaa and does Krichchhra Vrat with the desire of wealth, health, Swarg and destroying the sins, he attains everything."

All Sins Destroyer Stotra

Pushkar Jee said - "When people want to commit sins, they are benefited by prayers. At that time one should pray Him like thus ( Stotra is given on p 355 ). Who reads or listens to this Stotra he becomes free from all sins committed by mind, speech and actions and attains Vishnu Lok freeing himself from all Paap Graha. Therefore one should do Jap of this Stotra on committing any kind of sin. Who observe Krichchhra Vrat, it is good for them also. By doing Jap and Vrat all sins are destroyed, therefore to attain pleasure and Moksh, one should take up them."

Other Praayashchit (Repentance)

Agni Dev said - "Hey Vashishth, Now I will tell you about those Praayashchits which were told by Brahmaa Jee. In whatever way Praan can leave the body, that is called "Hanan". Who kills Braahman is called "Brahm Ghaatee". If somebody is killed during treatment it, the other man is not a killer; if a son, disciple or wife is killed while punishing, then also the man is not a killer. Praayashchit for Brahm Hatyaa is a very severe one. One should give his life for a cow and Braahman, or immolate himself, then he becomes free from Brahm Hatyaa. He can ask for alms house by house carrying a flag and the head of the dead Braahman saying "I have killed Braahman, I have killed a Braahman." Or take only regulated food for 12 years.

Who commit a sin knowingly, their Praayshchit is double than the people who commit it unknowingly. One should do Praayshchit of Braahman killing for 3 years. Brahm Ghaatee (killer of a Braahman) Kshatriya should do Praayshchit double, and Vaishya and Shodra should do Praayashchit six times. For other sins, Braahman should do Praayashchit in full, Kshatriya in 3/4th, Vaishya 1/2 and Shoodra, old people, women, children and patients should do only 1/4th. If one kills Kshatriya, he should do only 1/4th Praayashchit of Brahm Hatyaa; if one kills Vaishya, then only 1/8th; and if one kills Shoodra, then only 1/16th Praayshchit is prescribed.

If one commits secret sin, then do secret Praayashchit; and if one commits open sin, then he should do open Praayashchit. To be free from all sins, one should do Praaanaayaam 100 times.

Juices of jackfruit (Katahal), grapes, Mahuaa, dates, palm, sugarcane, Munaqqaa (a kind of large grape) and coconut are not considered liquor even thought they make one intoxicated. But all these juices are prohibited for Dwij. Roasted, things cooked in Ghee or oil, Ghee, oil, Sattoo, jaggery, milk, and juice etc can be taken even from a Shoodra's house.

If Hom material is eaten by mouse etc, or becomes insect-infected, then remove that part of the material, and do Hom with the remaining material after washing with water. If one makes a mistake in Poojaa Mantra, or in Poojaa materials, then one should do Jap of Ganapati Beej Mantra. Who repents after committing a sin, Hari's meditation is enough for him.

To Destroy Sins

Chaandraayan and Praajaapaty Vrat destroy sins.
Soorya, Shiv, Shakti, Vishnu's Mantras Jap also destroy sins.
Besides, Gaayatree, Pranav, and Paap Vinaashak Stotra (given on p 355) also destroy sins.

The Mantras of Soorya, Shiv, Shakti and Vishnu, which start from "k", with "Raa" Beej, Raadi etc and Raant Mantra give million times fruits. Besides, the Mantra which start from "Om Kleem" Chaturthyant and end in "Namah" fulfill all desires. The Jap of 12-letter and 8-letter Mantra of Narasinh Bhagavaan destroys all sins. Reading Agni Puraan also destroys all sins. 10 types of gold Daan (donations), 12 types of Dhaanya (grains) Daan, Tulaa, Purush etc 16 Mahaa Daan; and above all Ann (cooked or uncooked food) Daan - all these destroy sins. Daan given on Tithi (days of Lunar calendar), Vaar (Sunday, Monday etc), Nakshatra (Ashwinee, Maghaa, Pushya etc), Sankraanti (transition day for Sun from one zodiac sign to another), Yog (at the union of two occasions), stating day of Manvantar, for the sake of Soorya, Shiv, Shakti and Vishnu - all destroy all sins. Daan given in Teerth also destroy sins.