Kautilya's Arthashastra 14.3.80

14.3.80

jātānām amāvāsyāyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ vā puṣyayoginyāṃ guñjavallīr grāhayitvā maṇḍalikāni kārayet //

Having fasted for three nights and having on the day of the star of Pushya planted gunja seeds in the skull, filled with soil, of a man killed with weapons or put to the gallows, one should irrigate it with water. On the new or full moon day with the star of Pushya, one should take out the plants when grown, and prepare out of them circular pedestals (mandaliká). When vessels containing food and water are placed on these pedestals, the food stuffs will never decrease in quantity.