Sambodhi 1978 Vol 07

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 39

Samrajyalakṣmipithikā
worship, a place should be prepared. Priests should be honoured by the gifts of ornaments and be asked to recite Veda (Patala 11). Before the great worship, water from the rivers like Gangā or Yamunā should be given to the deity for the sake of sipping (acamana). Then the deity should be bathed with Pancāmsta. Then it should be bathed with holy waters poured through golden jars, while the Sri-sūkta is being muttered. Then garment similar in appearance to the moon-light and brought from China. should be dedicated. Flowers like Jāti, Pumnāga, Campaka, Asoka. Mallikā, lotuses etc. as well as incense, and lamp with ghee of cow and with a clean wick should be offered. Ample quantity of food consisting of various kinds of rice and other eatables, one thousand pieces of bananas, mangoes, coconuts etc. should be offered. Five jars of water also should be given. Water should be given for drinking and for washing hands also. The offering of food should be followed by the offering of betle Then the king should walk around the deity keeping it to his right hand. Then it should be raised and handful of flowers should be offered (Patala 13). Then the king should pray to the deity to pacify the evil phenomena, remove the danger suggested by them, and give long life and plentitude of wealth. Then the king should make a gift of the image of the deity to his teacher. This great worship" can be performed by the king on his birthday also. Thereby happiness, deseaselessness and thieflessness are secured among the people (Patala 14).
In order to avoid the evil effects of the phenomena, a great pacification (mahāśānti) should also be performed. For the sake of this rite, the ground should be bes nared with cowdung and colour-designs should be made on it. Deities should be established, tributes (bali) should be offered and the Vástu-hymn should be recited (Patala 17). Then the sacrifice to plants (Grahayajña) should be performed (Patala 18). Then an offering to the Lords of the directions (Dik pālahoma) should be perforemed. Then the Lords should be established and worshipped with the Vedic and Tantric formulas. Then an offering should be performed in the way of domestic rites or of Tāntric rites (Patala 19). Then the greatpacification should be performed (Patala 20) and the image of the Sämräjyalakşmi should be given to a Brāhmaṇa. By performing the great pacification in this way the king gets numerous good results (Patala 21).
Festivals, Vows and Worships throughout a year
The whole year is full of various sacred days and a king should perform everyday the rites proper to it. Thus on the first day of the month of Caitra, i.e. the first day of a year, the king should honour grown up ladies belonging to Barābmaņa-caste and having sons and grandsons, and give them dak siņās and betles. The rice-grains given by them should be