vrata

Friends,

Would deeply appreciate guidance and references to literature on the following queries: Are there references to the practice of vrata (vow, ascetic discipline -- e.g. kamad.ha 'penance' Prakrit) in regions outside Bharat, say, in Greece? Does Greek 'themis' correspond to Vedic 'dharma'? Are there Greek [and Indo-European language or Austro-Asiatic language] cognates for Vedic vrata?

Here are the background URLs with references:

http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/vrata1 Based on a lecture I delivered recently.

http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/mleccha1 This is linked to the previous URL since mleccha and vra_tya are both associated with Magadha. [Vra_tya clothing is given to unworthy bra_hman.a (brahmabandhu) of Magadha (magadha-des'i_ya: LS'S 8.6.28).]

A ra_janya is both a vra_tya and a ks.atra (see Avestan khshathra 'power'). ks.atra = 'authority, power' S'atapatha Bra_hman.a 12.7.3.12

It appears that the term vrata (root: vr.t-, e.g. vr.tti) is related to occupation or profession or simply, proficiency in work such as the work of a carpenter, a goldsmith, a metalsmith, a mason and so on. Thus, the suffix -vrata is semant. 'engaged in (work) or
dedicated (to)'. The semant. expansion in vra_tya is related to those who perform maha_vrata or engage in tasks assigned to troops. Semant. expansion also relates vrata both to an arahant (muni) or a ks.atriya.