Sambodhi 1978 Vol 07

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

Page 42

40
Ganesh Thite
On the first day of the bright half of Kārtika-month, Bili should be worshipped (Paralı 113) In the month of Mārgasīrśa rice mixed with pulse should de offered to Višņu (Patala 116). In the month of Pausa, on the day of transition of the sun to capricorn, gifts of cows, land and sesams should be made (Patala 117). The fourteenth day of the black fortnight of the month of Māgha is known as Mahāśivarātrī. On this day one should observe fast (Patala 118). On the first day of the bright half of Phālguna, a picture of Madana (god of love) accompanied by Rati (his wife) should be drawn and this picture should be carried through the city. In the evening food should b: offered before the picture and the picture should be burnt (Pațala 123).
Pilgrimage
For the sake of removing evil and getting merit a king .shloud desire to go on pilgrimage. Oa the earlier day of going out for pilgrimage punyähvācanarite should be performed and Brāhmaṇas should be fed. The king himself should eat saltless food only. On the next day he should honour Brahmanas and women and give them betels and daksiņās. He should receive their benedictions and then utter the sankalpa (a solemn vow to perform an observance) in connection with the pilgrimage. In that sankalpa he says that during the pilgrimage he will eat only once a day, will observe silence, celebacy, restrain and avoid betels, bath with the body ointed, foot-wear, fragrances garlands, vehicles etc. Then he should make various gifts and go on pilgrimage while seeing good omens (Patala 125).
Everyday he should traverse one or half a yojana(=about eight miles). Brāhmanas should be fed. After reaching to a place of pilgrimage he should get the beard and hair shaved, take bath and worship the presiding deity of the place. On that day he should observe fast, remain waking during the night and listen to the glory of that sacred place. Next day he should celebrate the ancestral worship. Gifts of cows, land, sesams and gold should be made. Food should be given to poor and helpless people. The presiding deity should be bathed and worshipped. Even the slightest sin in a sacred place is considered as the biggest. Therefore he should not reside in a sacred place for a long time. He should accomplish the pilgrimage in this way and return to his city at an auspicious time and feed Barāhmaṇas (Patala 126).
One who accomplishes piligrimage in the manner described above, gets the merit of Aśvamedha-sacrifice (Patala 38). Omens : their nature and inantic
If one sneezes at the beginning of an activity one should consider this to be a blow of thunder as it were. If one sneezes while one is sitting, or lying on bed, or giving gifts, this should be considered as a