Sambodhi 1978 Vol 07

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

Page 41

Samrajyalak mipithika
rve fast, mutter the Gayatri-formula, recite Veda. One who listens to Devimahatmya during this period gets salvation (Patala 97). During the festival the king should wear a thread in honour of Samrajyalakṣmi. Thereby he becomes the lord of all the worlds. Then the chaplain should advise him the duties of king (Patala 99-100). In this advice the chaplain tells him to be devoted to the welfare of the people, to good cctivities, protection of the Brahmanas, service of the ascetics, honour the astrologers, maintaining the physicians, knowers of the secret doctrines and practices, artists, fire-worshippers, those well-versed in the texts of Saivism and Vaisnavism; poets, singers, dramaturgists, knowers of rhythm, of archery, of boxing, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras and mystics. He further advices him to guard the people from mixture of castes (Patala 101). Then horses and elephants should be worshipped. (Patala 106). Then there should be some items of entertainments and the king should observe them. First, he should see the army consisting of chariots, elephants, horses, and infantry. Then he should see the tributes presented by the officers. Then there should be some music, recitation of poems, exibition of ships, wrestling, fights of rams, boirs etc. Then some fire-work may be done. The king should see birds etc. made of cloth or leather. Then the king should give fragrances, betels etc. to the artists. Then the king should go to harem and narrate the details of the items of entertainments to the women there. The king should be circumambulated with lamps kept in golden vessel. This festival should be performed for nine days in this manner. On the tenth day the king should throw some arrows towards the direction of his enemy (Patala 107). By throwing arr ows on one's enemy in this way, one becomes victorious because of the sacredness of this day. If one starts studies on this day one gets mastery in the subject undertalten. On that day the king should worship arms. He should think of the lord of the direction to which he wants to attack. He should go some distance in that direction riding on elephant. Some soldiers should accompany him at that time. Then the king should take the arms kept earlier on a Sami-tree and shoot some arrows. At each of the eight directions he should shoot three arrows. After this rite is over, he should return to the city (Patala 108-109). On each of the nine days of the Navaratra-festival, the king has to perform worship of maidens. This leads to the fulfilment of all the desires and victory over the enemy. The maidens to be worshipped should not be younger than one year. For they cannot have any interest in the worsihp. The maidens should be of the age of two to ten years. They should not be having any limb more or less or of black colour or from low type of families. This rite of worship of maidens can be performed at any other time of calamities etc. also (Patala 76)
On the fourteenth day of the black fortnight of Asvinamonth, gift of lamps should be made for the sake of removing the deity of poverty (Patala 112).
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