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SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
377
'अवसिते च वासरे विरलीभवत्सु कृत्रिमतुरंगवारणक्रीडाप्रधानेषु प्रेक्षणकेषु, विघटितासु विटलोकलोचनसुधासु वेश्या-रासमण्डलीषु, कृतपरस्परसेकयुद्धेषु प्रस्थितेषु मजनवापिकाभ्यः कनकदशशृंगभंगारपाणिषु भुजंगपौरेषु, निर्याते यात्रायातनगरनारीगणे, क्षणेन विरते रतिभर्तुरायतनरामणीयके झटिति नष्टाखिलाश: स्वयं मार्तण्डमण्डलाभोगेन विच्छायतामगच्छम्।
refers to shows having sports of sham horses and elephants as well as the festival of Holi.'
_ 'क्रमेण च समाप्ते परमदेवस्य मजनविधौ निर्मापिते सविस्तरं पूजाकर्मणि, प्रवर्तिते सविस्तरं गायकगणेन मधुमदंगध्वनिमिश्रे विश्राणितश्रावकश्रोत्रमदि मंगलगीतध्वनौ, प्रनतास पर्यायेण तास क्षितिपालकन्यायकास, क्षीणभूयिष्ठायां क्षपायामहं चित्रलेखया विरचितविचित्रवेषा प्रभाबद्धपरिवेषैः प्रलघुभिर्मणिभूषणैः समन्तादलंकृतमनुल्वणधृतांगरामंग दधाना रंगमध्यध्यासितवती, प्रवत्ता च सखीभिरिव साकं प्रेक्षकमनोवत्तिभिः प्रनर्तितुम्।
Refers to the festive occasion being charmed by the dance of Malayasundari wherein the ablution (consecration) of the great god had been performed, the adoration of the deity had been offered, the singers had sung to the accompaniment of instrumental music such as the melodious sound of the tabor, the auspicious eulogiums had been strained forth by the bards into the ears of the listeners, the princes had their dance performance displayed. The dance was performed by Malayasundars after having presented herself in the midst of the audience decked with ornaments and plastered with unguents and cosmetics. The dance being over, the audience were paid homage to (अवसिते च नृत्यकर्मणि कृत रंग प्रणामाम्) 'देवयात्रादर्शनागतान् विद्याधरपतीन् again refers to the festive procession in honour of god Jinendra. Kaumudi Mahotsava or the great festival falling on the full moon of Kärttika had a special significance in ancient times. "On this occasion houses and shops used to be decorated with flowers and flags and men and women also bedecked themselves with garlands and festive clothes. At night the streets and houses were illuminated with lights. Young men and women were expected to move about in all directions, singing, dancing, laughing and enjoying themselves. The festival was to be concluded with a great feast for which a number of animals were to be killed so that the Brāhmaṇas might be fed to their heart's content. It is stated by Laksmīdhara that if a person
1. TM. Sm ed. p. 323, LL-19 12. Ibid. Vol. III p. 189.
3. Ibid. Vol. III pp 189-190. 4. Ibid. Vol. III p. 196.
