Akhyanakmanikosha

Author(s): Nemichandrasuri, Punyavijay, Dalsukh Malvania, Vasudev S Agarwal
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 76

Social customs and festival etc. in AMKV.
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Belief in such practicies and superstitions was common. King Nanda, when he became love-sick, was treated by vijja (vaidyas ) joisiyā (Jyotişis) tantrikas and others. Worship of 64 yoginis in the yogini-pitha, of the Bhalanišana yantra, with areca-nuts, betel-leaves, lainps etc., burning of incense, worship of planets etc.; were done to cure the king. The account is full of humorous descriptions (p. 62. vy. 29 ff).
When some storms and epidemics broke out, it was sometimes suspected that a particular person was responsible for the māri (epidemic ) or was māri in disguise. The person was either killed or if a woman, was banished from the State since nāri was regarded as avadkyā (excluded from capital punishment ). In cases of storms or supernatural events (p. 66 ) the king went out with an incenseburner (dhiyakaducchayahattho) in hand, covering himself with an ulla padaya (wet garment or borrowed garment ) and prayed ( in public ) to this effect : Whether you are a deva, or a dănava, or a gandharva, kinnara or a yakşa, whoever you may be, please forgive all my faults and be pacified and pleased (155.37-38; 66.61-64). Another such practice (recorded on p. 16. vv. 248 ff) was the offering of õaha gabali at night, at places like caccara, caukka, racchā, goura, attāla etc., to supernatural beings, made by queen Sivādevi, (who is described as avasaņā-undressed !) for removal of evil (asivova samana ). The baliksira was offered.
Various festivals etc. are referred to. Of these the vaddhāvanayam, nāmakaraṇa, etc., are already noted above. Coronation of a king ( rajjamahusava ) was celebrated. Engagements (rāgdana, varanaya ) and vivāhakarma, (337.81 ) were also celebrated. Sometimes princesses selected their husbands in the Svayamvara-manda pa as was done by Davadanti. A beautiful description of this pandal, given on p. 47, is noteworthy. It was decorated with white flags and jingling bells, seats were arranged in an ascending order (mancāimancakalio ), canopies of white pattaula (silken cloth ) were there, and there were incenseburners on pillars or posts, and so on.
The bride-groom's party goes to the bride's pandal. Sometimes the party goes from one town or village to another, which is jannalla ( in Guj. it is end, in Hindi, atia. We also find references to another type of yātrās, the devajattā or devayātra (p. 16 ). The Jaina festival of procession of car, the Ratha-yatrā was popularised by Samprati, the grandson of Asoka. We also hear of Indramaha festival in Campā (142.62-6+), the spring festival of Madana-trayodasi ( 26.45 ), the Komui-mahasava (Kaumudi-mahotsava, 143.89 ), and picnics in gardens ( ujjāniyā, modern Guj. Emell 263.17 ), the Jaina eight-day festival of astāhnika-mahotsava ( 258.430 ), the divisava ( dipotsava ) or festival of lights ( 104.3 ), etc.
People also enjoyed several types of sports, games, amusements; of these, vāpi-kridā or jala-krida, singing of Cacari-giyas ( 221.20 ) rāsakas of gopis ( 308.2) and gopas (cowherd ladies and males ), kāgali-siyas (kūkali-gitas, 136.2; 78.227 etc. ), nādayakalās ( 93.78, dance, dramatics and music ) etc. are noteworthy. Kings came to see nada-pcccham in the rangabhaimi (theatre). An interesting account of the various karanas of dance etc., performed on a pole by Ilāputra, in presence of the king and people of the city of Binnāyada, is noteworthy ( 93.82-90 ). People enjoyed playing of tāla (rhythm ), rasaya (circular dance), nadaya, pekkhanaya (shows, 128.34), madhura-giya or sweet songs, etc. ( 81-6). Two friends Amaradatta and Mitrāņanda of Ujjain go to the Matta-Kokila-udyana and play the anoliya-kheddam (201.274-275). Anoliyā or Unnaiyă (147.14;209.540) (tip-cat ?) is probably a game played with two sticks one long and the other very short, known as gilli-dandā in Gujarāti. Gambling was not unknown, so also drinking. There were mahāsavas ( madhūtsavas 76.152) and apánakas ( winebooths, 271.17). There were also apanaka-gosthis (279.22). People also enjoyed wrestling competitions, cf. the malla-maha in Sopăraya-nayara ( 261.2 ) in the story of Attanamalla of Ujjain. The Malla-rangemahi is reported to have been broad and with ascending seats (mancaimancakaliã vitthiņņā-294.159 ).
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