Shantikamalakara 4.113_108

English (machine translation) 4.113_108

Language: English

4.113_108.1

During the consecratory sprinkling, an adaptation should be made: ‘…for the propitiation of the faults of one born under the gaṇḍānta lunar mansion of Āśleṣā/Mūla’. / Thus ends the Āśleṣā propitiatory rite according to Śaunaka. / Now the ritual manual: / Having performed the ritual imitation of a cow's delivery at the stated time, having proclaimed the place and time, having made the ritual resolution: ‘In order to please the venerable Supreme Lord through the pacification of the misfortune and so forth to the father and others indicated by this boy's birth under the Āśleṣā lunar mansion, I shall perform the propitiatory rite for birth under the Āśleṣā lunar mansion, preceded by the nine planets fire sacrifice’, and having performed the worship of Gaṇeśa, the puṇyāhavācana, the worship of the Mothers, and the Nāndī-śrāddha, he should select the preceptor and the priests. Then the preceptor, having made the ritual resolution: ‘I will perform the duty of the preceptor in this rite’, having scattered mustard seeds with ‘yad atra saṃsthitam…’, having sprinkled the ritual ground with the mantras ‘āpo hi ṣṭhā…’, having drawn a svastika in five colors in the northeastern quarter, having touched the ground there with ‘mahī dyauḥ…’, having scattered a droṇa measure of unhusked rice with ‘oṣadhayaḥ sam…’, having placed the pitcher there with ‘ā kalaśeṣu…’, having filled it with ‘imaṃ me gaṅge…’, having added perfume and flowers with ‘gandhadvārām…’, herbs with ‘yā oṣadhīḥ…’, barley grains with ‘oṣadhayaḥ sam…’, dūrvā grass with ‘kāṇḍāt kāṇḍāt…’, five sprout-twigs with ‘aśvatthe vaḥ…’, seven earths with ‘syonā…’, a fruit with ‘yāḥ phalinīḥ…’, the five jewels with ‘sahi ratnāni…’, the five bovine products with the three verses ‘āpo hi ṣṭhā…’, gold with ‘hiraṇyarūpaḥ…’, having wrapped it with cloths using ‘yuvā suvāsāḥ…’, should place the filled vessel with ‘pūrṇā darvi…’. / Then, upon a vessel placed atop the filled vessel, on a golden image of Rudra, having invoked Mṛtyuṃjaya with the mantra ‘tryambakam…’, he should worship him. Of this [mantra], Vasiṣṭha is the seer, Rudra is the deity, and the metre is anuṣṭubh.

4.113_108.2

Then, one officiating priest touches the pitcher and mutters the eleven Rudras: if the sacrificer belongs to the Yajurveda; but if he belongs to the Ṛgveda, the four Rudra hymns; and if he belongs to the Sāmaveda, the Rudra sāmans. The count of the hymns or sāmans should be taken as eleven, eight, three, two, or one. Some say: Rudra is common to all, whereas for the Ṛgvedin and Sāmavedin, the hymns and sāmans are an alternative to Rudra; this is indeed how the learned perform it. The Rudra-nyāsa and the rest should be looked up in the Śrīguru Rudrapaddhati. / The Rudra hymns, however, are: 'kad rudrāya', consisting of nine verses, Ghora Kaṇva [is the seer], Rudra [the deity], Anuṣṭubh and Gāyatrī; 'imā rudrāya', consisting of one verse, Kutsa [is the seer], Rudra [the deity], the first two verses Jagatī, the last two Triṣṭubh; 'ā te pitaraḥ', consisting of fifteen verses, Gṛtsamada [is the seer], Rudra [the deity], Triṣṭubh; 'tam u ṣṭuhi', Bhauma Atri [is the seer], Rudra [the deity], Triṣṭubh; 'bhuvanasya pitare', Ṛjiśvan [is the seer], Rudra [the deity], Triṣṭubh; 'tryambakaṃ', Vasiṣṭha [is the seer], Rudra [the deity], Anuṣṭubh. The seer and other details of the Rudra-sāman should be looked up in the Tulāpuruṣapaddhati. Then he should mutter 'tryambakaṃ' a thousand and eight times, and the Pāvamānī verses, over the central pitcher. / Then, over the eastern pitcher, 'āśuḥ śiśānaḥ', consisting of thirteen verses: Apratiratha Indra is the seer, Indra the deity, Triṣṭubh the metre, the last verse Anuṣṭubh. Over the southern pitcher, the section 'tvam agne rudraḥ': Havyavāh is the seer, Rudra whose self is Agni the deity, Jagatī metre. Over the western pitcher, 'rakṣohaṇaḥ': Vāmadeva [is the seer], Agni [the deity], Triṣṭubh. / Over the northern pitcher, 'rakṣohaṇaṃ', consisting of twenty-five verses: the Āṅgirasas [are the seers], Vāyu and Agni [the deities], Triṣṭubh, the last four Anuṣṭubh; this is employed in muttering. / Here too, the previously stated count should be adopted according to one's capacity. If five pitchers are not available, he should establish a pitcher with four spouts and five mouths and perform everything in that very vessel. / Then, north of the pitcher, having made a twenty-four-petalled lotus of five colours, he should set up a sacred pot on the pericarp as before. / There, in the case of the paddy grains, there is no restriction.

4.113_108.3

With 'yāḥ phalinīḥ', he should throw in jewels and medicinal herbs. Then, upon the full platter resting atop the pitcher, he should invoke the idol of Āśleṣā, named Sarpa, with the mantra 'namo 'stu sarpebhyaḥ'. / Verse: Then Sarpa is red, three-eyed, two-armed, clad in blue garments, / bearing a shield and a sharp sword, adorned with divine ornaments. / Having thus meditated on Sarpa, to its south, with the mantra 'bṛhaspate' (Gṛtsamada [is the seer], Bṛhaspati [the deity], Triṣṭubh [the metre]), having invoked Bṛhaspati into an idol, and to its north, having invoked the Ancestors into an idol of the Ancestors with 'udīratām' (Śaṅkha [is the seer], the Ancestors [the deities], Svadhā [the deity], Triṣṭubh [the metre]), starting from the east on the twenty-four lotus petals, he should invoke the lunar mansions and their presiding deities, beginning with Pūrvā[phālgunī] and ending with Punarvasu: / namely, Aryaman, Bhaga, Savitṛ, Tvaṣṭṛ, Vāyu, Indrāgnī, Mitra, Indra, Nirṛti, the Waters, the Viśvedevas, Viṣṇu, the Vasus, Aja Ekapād, Ahirbudhnya, Pūṣan, the Aśvins, Yama, Agni, Prajāpati, Soma, Rudra, and Aditi.

4.113_108.4

Then, having invoked the World Guardians, the officiating priest, having installed the fire, the idol, and the planets, should add fuel to the fire: each of the nine planets with a specified number of firewood, caru, and ghee oblations; Bṛhaspati and the Ancestors each with twenty-eight oblations of boiled rice mixed with ghee, firewood, and ghee; the twenty-four deities beginning with Bhaga each with eight oblations of milk porridge and ghee; with the fifteen verses of 'rakṣohaṇaṃ kṛṇuṣva', eight oblations of kṛsara per verse; Savitṛ, Durgā, Tryambaka, Ṛtvikstuti, Vāstoṣpati, Agni, Kṣetrapati, Mitrāvaruṇā, and Agni each with eight oblations of kṛsara, firewood, ghee, and caru; Soma with thirteen oblations of milk porridge; Rudra with ghee taken four times; Agni, Vāyu, Sūrya, and Prajāpati with ghee; with the remainder, the sviṣṭakṛt, and so forth, performing up to the placing of the full platter, and having cooked the milk porridge and the kṛsara caru, he should carry out the ritual up to the two portions of ghee. Then the sacrificer should make the ritual renunciation designated for all the deities on the south. / Next, the presiding priest together with the officiating priests should perform the fire oblation. Namely: having offered to the nine planets, the principal deities, the counter-deities, Vināyaka and the rest, and the World Guardians, with their respective mantras; to the serpents with the mantra 'namo 'stu sarpebhyaḥ'; to Bṛhaspati and to the Ancestors with their respective mantras, having offered the four substances according to their respective numbers, he should offer to the twenty-four deities beginning with Bhaga with their name-mantras, eight times. / Then, the fifteen verses beginning with 'kṛṇuṣva' (Gotama Vāmadeva is the seer, Rakṣohan [the deity], Triṣṭubh [the metre]) are employed in the kṛsara oblation. / The Gāyatrī to Savitṛ, and 'jātavedase' (Kaśyapa is the seer, Durgā [the deity], Triṣṭubh [the metre]) are employed in the kṛsara oblation. / 'tryambakaṃ' (Vasiṣṭha is the seer, Rudra [the deity], Anuṣṭubh [the metre]) is employed in the kṛsara oblation.

4.113_108.5

Of 'sīrā yuñjanti' ('They yoke the plows'), the seer is Budha Saumya; the deity is Ṛktsuti; the meter is gāyatrī; application is in the homa of kṛsara. / Of 'tām agnivarṇām' ('Her who is fire-hued'), Saubhari [is the seer]; Durgā [is the deity]; triṣṭubh [is the meter]; application is in the homa of kṛsara. / Of 'vāstoṣpate' ('O lord of the homestead'), Vasiṣṭha [is the seer]; Vāstoṣpati [is the deity]; triṣṭubh [is the meter]; application is in the homa of kṛsara. / Of 'gṛṇānā' ('Being praised'), Jamadagni [is the seer]; Mitrāvaruṇa [are the deities]; gāyatrī [is the meter]; application is in the homa of kṛsara. / Of 'agniṃ dūtam' ('Agni, the messenger'), Virūpa Āṅgirasa [is the seer]; Agni [is the deity]; gāyatrī [is the meter]; application is in the homa of kṛsara. / Of the fifteen-verse hymn 'hiraṇyavarṇām' ('Golden-hued'), Ānanda, Kardama, and Ciklīta, the sons of Indirā, are the seers; Śrī is the deity; the first three are anuṣṭubhs; the fourth is a prastārapaṅkti; / the fifth and sixth are triṣṭubhs; then eight are anuṣṭubhs; the last is a prastārapaṅkti; application is in the homa. / With each verse, one should offer firewood sticks, ghee, and boiled rice-mash (caru) one hundred and eight times, or eight times. / With 'tvaṃ naḥ soma' ('Do you, O Soma'), one should offer boiled rice-mash (caru) one hundred and eight times, or eight times. / Or the mantra is 'tvaṃ naḥ soma viśvato gopāḥ' ('Do you, O Soma, our protector from all sides'); or 'tvaṃ naḥ soma sukratuḥ' ('Do you, O Soma, of noble mind'); of these two, Vimada Aindra [is the seer]; Soma [is the deity]; prastārapaṅkti [is the meter]. Then, having taken a fourfold ladling of ghee, [with] 'yā te rudra' ('That which is your, O Rudra'), Kaśyapa [is the seer]; Rudra [is the deity]; svarāḍ-anuṣṭubh [is the meter]—with this one should make the offering. Then, having offered ghee with the ladle using the individual and combined vyāhṛtis, one should perform [the rites] up to the atonement homa beginning with the sviṣṭakṛt. / Then one should present propitiatory offerings accompanied by lamps to the guardians of the directions, the nine planets, Vināyaka and the others, Nirṛti, Indra, the waters, Rudra, and Kṣetrapāla. Then the preceptor or the sacrificer, having filled the large ladle with four ladlings or indeed twelve ladlings, and having placed fruit and other [offerings] upon it, should offer the full final oblation (pūrṇāhuti). The mantras there are: of the eleven-verse hymn 'samudrād ūrmiḥ' ('The wave from the ocean'), Vāmadeva Gautama [is the seer]; triṣṭubh [is the meter]; the last is jagatī; application is in the homa of the full final oblation.

4.113_108.6

'prajāpataye' ('To Prajāpati')—Hiraṇyagarbha Prajāpati [is the seer]; triṣṭubh [is the meter]; application is in the homa of the full final oblation. / Having offered the full final oblation with these, and having completed the remaining rites such as pouring out the praṇītā waters, touching the pitcher placed in the center of the four sacred pots on its southern side, if the sacrificer belongs to the Yajurveda, he should recite 'tryambakam' ('The three-eyed one') and also the Rudraikādaśinī. / If he is a Ṛgvedin, however, the Rudrasūktas [are recited]; if a Sāmavedin, the Rudrasāmans; and if an Atharvavedin, merely the Tryambaka mantra. Here too, the recitation of the Rudra [mantra] is eleven, eight, three, two, or one in number; the recitation of the Tryambaka [mantra] is one hundred for all. Then, having worshiped the Rudra serpents with the five modes of service, having stood before them with 'tryambakam' and 'namas te sarpebhyaḥ' ('Homage to you, O serpents'), and having taken water from all the pots in another vessel, the preceptor together with the officiating priests should seat the sacrificer—whose limbs have been anointed with all the medicinal herbs and who has put on new garments—together with his wife and child, and consecrate him with the mantras to be spoken. / Of the six [verses] beginning with 'atribhyām' ('By the two Atrīs'), Kaśyapa is the seer; Vivṛhā Yakṣmanāśana [is the deity]; anuṣṭubh [is the meter]; application is in the consecratory sprinkling. Of the seven [verses] beginning with 'tribhis tvaṃ deva' ('You, O god, with the three'), Vasiṣṭha is the seer; Agni is the deity of the first three, then the Viśvedevas of the four; the first is gāyatrī, the second is anuṣṭubh, then three are gāyatrīs, and the last two are anuṣṭubhs; application is in the consecratory sprinkling. Of the nine [verses] beginning with 'āpo hi ṣṭha' ('Waters indeed are you'), Sindhudvīpa Āmbarīṣa is the seer; the waters [are the deity]; the [first seven are] gāyatrīs, the last two are anuṣṭubhs, the fifth is vardhamānā, the seventh is pratiṣṭhā; application is in the consecratory sprinkling. Of the two [verses] beginning with 'apaidvā' ('Depart!'), the Aptya seers [are the seers]; the Viśvedevas are the deities; anuṣṭubh [is the meter]. Of 'sahasrākṣeṇa' ('With the thousand-eyed'), Prajāpati Yakṣmanāśin [is the seer]; Yakṣmahā [is the deity]; triṣṭubh [is the meter]. / Then: / May that god who holds the thunderbolt, the great Indra who rides an elephant, / avert the affliction born of the serpent from the child and from the mother and father! / May that god who holds the spear, the consumer of oblations who rides a ram, / the seven-tongued god Agni, avert the affliction of the serpent! / May that god who holds the staff, Dharma who rides a buffalo, / Yama, avert my child's affliction born of the serpent!

4.113_108.7

May that god who holds a sword, [Nirṛti], who rides a buffalo, / pacify the affliction arising from the serpent, born of the gaṇḍānta junction! / May that god who holds a noose, born of the gaṇḍānta junction, / riding a sea-monster, Pracetas, avert the evil arisen from the serpent! / May that god, the life-breath of the world, Māruta, who rides a deer, / the bestower of peace, pacify the affliction of the child arisen from the serpent! / May that god, the lord of treasures, wielding a sword, riding a horse, / avert the affliction of the serpent from the mother, the father, and the child! / May that god, Paśupati, wielding the Pināka, riding a bull, / quickly avert the affliction of the Āśleṣā and Mūla gaṇḍānta junction! / May the lord of obstacles, Kṣetrapāla, Durgā, the guardians of the directions, and the nine planets, / all being bestowers of peace, effect the pacification of the serpent's affliction! / May [this rite] avert every affliction of the child born under the Āśleṣā lunar mansion, / from the mother, father, wealth, and the family of brothers and kinsmen! / May that supreme deity known as Bṛhaspati, the lord of speech, / avert the gaṇḍānta affliction from the mother, father, and child! / The Pitṛs and the serpents... the supreme deity Bṛhaspati... / [protect] the child born under the serpent lunar mansion, the wealth, and the kinsmen and relatives! / Having consecrated [them] with 'surās tvā' and other [verses], [with] 'kacchaṃ yoḥ', Śaṃyu [is the seer]; the Viśvedevas [are the deity]; śakvarī [is the meter]; application is in the consecratory sprinkling. / Then, having been consecrated with the water of the pitcher of Rudra and the serpents and with other [waters] by means of a stream from a vessel with a hundred perforations, the sacrificer, having given a milch cow to the preceptor, a bull to the brahman priest, a black ox to the reciter of the Rudra mantras, the images to the officiating priests, and sacrificial gifts according to his ability, and having performed the concluding worship of the serpents, and having taken water for guest-offering (arghya) accompanied with fruit, flowers, and the like in a copper vessel: / 'Homage to you, O lord of all, and chief of the host of serpents! / Accept the arghya given by me, for the pacification of my own misfortune!'

4.113_108.8

Having offered water of hospitality thus, having bidden [the deities] depart with 'Rise up', having presented [the gifts] to the preceptor following a ritual resolution, having worshipped the fire, having dismissed [it] saying 'Go, go', having fed brahmins according to one's means, one should eat together with one's friends.
Now, the fruit described with regard to specific lunar mansions
in the Nṛsiṃhaprasāda:
If a son is born in the first half of Citrā, in the middle two quarters of Puṣya, in the first quarter of Pūrvāṣāḍhā, or in the third quarter of Uttarāṣāḍhā, / he causes destruction of the life of his parents and brother. 1

Linked texts (1)

Śāntikamalākara — Kamalākarabhaṭṭa 1587, Sanskrit