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TILAKAMANJARĪ OF DHANAPALA
“आलिखत जातमातृपटलम्'" जातं नाम गोधृतप्राशनादिना संस्कारविशेषः तदधिष्ठातृभूतं मातृपटलम्
The ritual or sacrament performed with the edibles such as ghee of a cow.
Hence the sixth of the 16th divine mothers is Vijay, which may be identified with the "Sasthidevi' who was worshipped during the wakefulness on the sixth night of the child-birth. It is the name of Durgā according to Sir Monier Williams. It is a usual practice even today that Durgā is worshipped on any type of wakefulness known as 'Jāgā' which is celebrated by waking the whole night long in order to celebrate the rejoicing in lieu of some ardent wish fulfilled or cherished to be fulfilled. In ancient times this wakefulness must have been a special feature on the sixth night after the delivery. People comprising mostly of relatives and well-wishers of the child's parents must have been assembling on that night before the image of Durgā (Şaşthīdevī) and praises and eulogiums of the goddess (stotras in honour of Durgā) must have been sung as propitiatory chants by the devotees and priests the whole night long as is normally the case in modern times as well. 'Yātrotsava' a festive procession has been referred to by Dhanapala with reference to the auspicious consecration ceremony of the adorable (god Jina) or (Jinendra) the parent both of the sensate as well as the insensate beings wherein music or orchestra played a significant role. Rejoicings (Pramoda) dance (lāsyalīlābhyupagamam), the stage-arena of amorous actions (śrngāraceștā rangabhūmi), the acting of enactable themes (abhinayanti samyagabhineyārthajātam), the highest pitch of enjoyment of a show by the audience (āropayanti preksakajanasya pramodama-grabhūmim) etc. forming the accessories to it. ___'मधुमासस्य शुद्धत्रयोदश्यामहमहमिकोपदर्शितनिजविभवविच्छर्देन नगरीनिवासिना भुजंगलोकेन भक्त्या प्रवर्तितं यात्रोत्सवमवेक्षितमिदमेव सर्वतोविरचितविचित्रवस्त्रध्वजवितानमात्तकनकशंगवेश्यांगनाभुजंगजनपरस्परारब्धजलसेकयुद्धं भगवतो मकरध्वजस्यायतनमागतोऽस्मिा
refers to the bright or light half of the Spring season and its thirteenth on which the gallants enjoyed a festal melee in company with the coquettes or harlots who carried the syringes made of gold with which they started a sprinkling warfare against the gallants, in the shrine of the shark-bannered god (i.e. Cupid). The citizen folk went to see this festival accordingly.
This is a true picture of the Holī of modern days.
1. TM Vol. II p. 185. 2. Ibid. 3. Skt. Eng. Dict. under Şasthidevī, 4. TM Vol. III pp 187-188. 5. TM II. p.241, LL 5-8.
