Shantikamalakara 5

English (machine translation) 5

Language: English

5.p1

Now, the propitiatory rites for lunar mansions at the onset of fever.
There, in the Madanaratna—Ātreya said:---
Now I shall declare the knowledge of the lunar mansions. Aśvinī has three stars, is female, horse-faced, looking sideways, yellow-coloured; its tree is the kāñci tree, its bird is the golden bird, it is light; its deities are the Aśvins; it belongs to the divine class; its origin-yoni is the horse; its syllables are the sounds ‘a’ and ‘ā’. One may perform sexual union after menstruation, tonsure, funeral rites, putting on clothes, first solid food feeding, medical treatment, planting seeds, setting up coconut and sugarcane, and gathering materials. At the end of fifty nāḍikās, there are four venomous nāḍikās. In the month of Makara, it is void. On Wednesday, there is the combination for death. On Sunday, the combination for joy; some prefer [saying] dispute. On Tuesday, the combination for success. Having eaten food prepared with kidney beans, one may depart on a journey, and one should collect weapons. If red clouds appear at noon on that day, it rains within five or six days. If fever arises on that day, on a Tuesday, under Viṣṇu, there is affliction for ten days. Worship is with blue lotus flowers; the incense is bdellium; the food offering is milk-sweets; the ritual formula for worship is the mantra “Devasya tvā…”; the primary material is firewood sticks of milky trees. Having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Gāyatrī, one should give a propitiatory offering of curd-rice. Beginning from the eleventh day, at the end of twenty-five days he will be well. At the ingress of the sun, there are medium prices.
Here, having commemorated the place and time, the performer makes the ritual resolution: “For the purpose of quickly achieving recovery through the appeasement of all misfortunes indicated by the onset of fever under my [specified] lunar mansion, I shall perform the propitiatory rite for the [specified] lunar mansion.” Having worshipped Gaṇeśa, he should choose the ritual preceptor. The ritual preceptor, touching the ground to the northeast of the fire-ground with the mantra “Mahī dyauḥ…”, scattering barley grains with “Oṣadhayaḥ saṃ…”, placing a pitcher with “Ā kalaśeṣu…”, filling it with water with “Imaṃ me Gaṅge…”, [adding] sandalwood paste with “Gandhadvārām…”, all medicinal herbs with “Yā oṣadhīḥ…”, dūrvā grass with “Kāṇḍāt-kāṇḍāt…”, the five shoots with “Aśvatthe vaḥ…”, seven earths with “Syonā pṛthivī…”, fruit with “Yāḥ phalinīḥ…”, five gems with “Sahi ratnāni…”, and gold with “Hiraṇyastūpaḥ…”, wrapping it with a cloth with “Yuvā suvāsāḥ…”, having formed a twelve-petalled lotus upon a cloth over the filled vessel with “Pūrṇā darvi…”, having invoked the deity of the lunar mansion onto an image with its mantra, having invoked the twelve deities Saṃkarṣaṇa, Vāsudeva, and the rest on the twelve surrounding petals, and having invoked the guardians of the directions, having worshipped them with the fragrant pastes, flowers, incense, lamps, and food offerings prescribed for each, having established the fire, having offered one hundred and eight oblations to the deity of the lunar mansion with the materials prescribed for it using the Gāyatrī, and having offered eight, four, or one oblation to Saṃkarṣaṇa and the others, having given a propitiatory offering with the materials up to the dismissal of the praṇītā water following the sviṣṭakṛt oblation, having given a fee to the preceptor, having performed consecratory sprinkling with the pitcher water, having dismissed [the deities], having given the image and other items to the preceptor, and having dismissed the fire, he should feed brāhmaṇas. This is the summary of the ritual manual. The same is to be understood for the rest. 1.

5.p2

Bharaṇī has three stars, is triangular in shape, female, looking downward; Yama is its deity; it is fierce; it belongs to the human class; its origin-yoni is the elephant; its tree is the āmalaka; its bird is the cock; its syllables are the sounds ‘i’ and ‘ī’. If red clouds appear at noon, there will be rain on the sixteenth day. On Tuesday, there is an obstacle. One should gather wealth and plant bṛhatī and bitter gourd. At the end of twenty-four nāḍikās, there are the venomous nāḍikās. In the month of Phālguna, it is void. In conjunction with Wednesday and the seventh lunar day, it is a venomous combination. On Wednesday, it is a combination for destruction. On Sunday, it is Yamakaṇṭaka. In another degree, there is death on that day. In the ascendant of Cancer or Sagittarius with a Martian degree, gathering of grain [is prescribed], and in that ascendant one should engage in agriculture. At the onset of fever, there is death or uncertainty. The food offering is jaggery cake; the flower is black and fragrant; the incense is Indian bdellium; the mantra for worship is “Tryambakam…”; the material for fire oblation is an equal measure of ghee and honey; at the end of five days, one should offer one hundred and eight oblations with the Gāyatrī; at the end of twenty-one days, he will be well; if there is no propitiatory rite, death occurs. Setting eyes on land at rising on the days of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, except during Taurus, Scorpio, Virgo, and the Subhadrā ninth [tithi]. At the ingress of the sun, there are cheap prices. 2.

5.p3

Kṛttikā has six stars, is shaped like a razor, is female, downward-facing; Agni is its deity; it is mixed; belongs to the class of demons; is yellow in color; has a sheep [or goat] as its yoni; its tree is the uḍumbara; its birds are the krauñca and the crow; its syllables are short u and long ū. One should set out on a journey having eaten curds. One should give rice cooked with mung beans and śyāmāka grain; one should give ornaments. At the end of thirty nāḍīs occurs the toxic period. It is vacant in the month of Kārttika. On Wednesday there is an astrological combination for death. One should undertake the planting of coconut, betel nut, cardamom, and cloves. If a fever arises, there is suffering for nine days; rice cooked with ghee is the food offering; the worship is with mallikā flowers; ghee is the incense; 'punantu mā devajanāḥ' is the mantra for worship. One should offer one hundred and eight fire oblations of curd-rice with the Sāvitrī mantra. At the sun's transit, prices are low. (3)

5.p4

Rohiṇī has five stars, is triangular in shape, female, upward-facing; Prajāpati is its deity; it is fixed, yellow in color; belongs to the class of humans; has a serpent as its yoni; its tree is the jambu; its birds are the peacock and the rooster; its syllables are the ṛ-vowels. One should perform intercourse during the fertile period, parting of the hair, naming, first feeding of solid food, tonsure, sacred-thread investiture, beginning of study, setting up the sacred pot, and virtuous acts. It is vacant in the month of Caitra. In the fortieth [nāḍī] is an ominous combination. On Thursday there is a toxic combination; on Friday, a combination for death; on Saturday, an accomplished combination. When Saturn is situated in the ascendant in a fixed sign, one should store grain. If a fever arises, there is suffering for three or nine days; rice cooked in milk is the food offering; lotuses, ghee, and all kinds of grains are the substances for the fire oblation. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī mantra, one should present a propitiatory offering of rice cooked in milk to Prajāpati. Beginning from the second day, at the end of nine days he will be well. At the sun's transit, prices rise. (4)

5.p5

Mṛgaśiras has three stars, is shaped like a deer's head, is neuter; Soma is its deity; it is gentle; belongs to the class of gods; its yoni is the serpent; its tree is the khadira; its bird is the peacock; its syllable is the letter ḷ; it is sideways-facing. Having eaten deer meat, one should set out on a journey. If a rainbow is seen, there will be rain within eight days. One should perform intercourse during the fertile period, parting of the hair, naming, first feeding of solid food, initiation into the Veda, sacrifices, beginning of study, ear-piercing, bathing, marriage, sowing of seed, consecratory sprinkling, rites for building a house, acquisition of cattle, and śrāddha. At the end of fourteen nāḍīs occurs the toxic period. It is vacant in the month of Kārttika. On Thursday there is a combination for death; and death [occurs] on the sixth lunar day with an ominous combination. On Sunday there is a joyful combination; with the Moon, an accomplished combination. On Monday at moonrise, in the Taurus ascendant, one should perform the rite of consecration: there will be an increase in results. In this ascendant, one should collect clay on the ground for marriage: it becomes one's own. One should plant crops. If a fever arises, there is suffering for five days; milk porridge is the food offering; worship is with white water lilies and blue lotuses; ten-ingredient incense is the incense; 'navo navo bhavati' is the mantra for worship. Mung beans, sesame, and the five bovine products are the substances for the fire oblation. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī mantra, one should present a propitiatory offering of mung beans and sesame to Candra and the others. Beginning from the fifth day, at the end of nine days he will be well. At the sun's transit, prices are middling. (5)

5.p6

Ārdrā has one star, is female; Rudra is its deity; it is sharp, yellow in color, upward-facing; belongs to the class of humans; has a dog as its yoni; its tree is the black khadira; its bird is the owl; its syllables are the vowels e and ai. At twenty-one nāḍīs occurs the toxic period. Having drunk amṛta, one should set out on a journey. If there is a rainbow, there is no rain. If there is a bank of clouds in the Aries ascendant, there will be rain in five or seven days. At that time, when Mars rises in the Taurus ascendant, one should acquire wealth, begin studies, pierce the ears, and perform a śrāddha. On Thursday there is a combination for death; on Sunday with the Nandā lunar day, a combination for death; in the second portion, death on that day. On Saturday at Saturn's rising, building a bridge [is auspicious]. On Sunday and Tuesday in the Cancer ascendant, one should take medicine; in this ascendant, beginning of study should be performed. If a fever arises, there is death; there is suffering for thirty-one days; (jaggery, ghee, cloth, and halaka are the food offering;) the datura flower and raktakarañja are its tree; agaru is the incense; 'namaḥ śambhave' is the mantra for worship. Honey and ghee are the substances for the fire oblation. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī mantra, one should present a propitiatory offering of milk porridge to Rudra. Beginning from the fifth day, at the end of ten days he will be well, or else death ensues. At the sun's transit, prices are even. (6)

5.p7

Punarvasu has six stars, is shaped like a boat; Aditi is its deity; it is movable; belongs to the class of gods; has a cat as its yoni; its tree is the bamboo; its bird is the crow; its syllables are the vowels o and au; it is male, sideways-facing. One should perform sexual intercourse during the fertile period, parting of the hair, naming, first feeding of solid food, tonsure, sacred-thread investiture, beginning of study, medicine for a puerperal woman, rites for building a house, installation of deities, putting on clothes and ornaments, consecratory sprinkling, sowing of seed, journeys, and so forth. At the end of thirty nāḍīs occurs the toxic period. In the month of Gemini one should perform journeys and the like. At the end of thirty nāḍīs occurs the toxic period. It is vacant in the month of Gemini. On Thursday there is an ambrosial combination; on Sunday, a combination for the achievement of wealth; and some hold it to be an accomplished combination. If a fever arises, there is suffering for seven days; rice cooked with jaggery is the food offering; worship is with mallikā flowers; sandalwood is the incense; 'aditir dyaur' is the mantra for worship. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations of ghee and rice grains with the Gāyatrī mantra, one should present a propitiatory offering of perfumes, garlands, and cooked rice to Aditi. Beginning from the seventh day, at the end of twenty-seven days he will be well. At the sun's transit, prices rise. (7)

5.p8

Puṣya has eight stars; it is arrow-shaped, male, sideward-facing and upward-facing, having Bṛhaspati as deity, light, of the divine class, of the goat origin; its tree is the aśvattha; its bird is the jīvañjīva; its letter is "ka". Having drunk ghee, one should set out on a journey. At the end of twenty nāḍīs is the toxic nāḍikā. One should perform union in season, sīmanta, naming, first solid food, tonsure, sacred thread investiture, ear-piercing, commencement of studies, bathing, consecratory sprinkling, sowing of seeds, architectural work, putting on clothes and ornaments, installation of cattle and deities, and ancestral rites. In the month of Kārttika, it is void. Combined with the tenth tithi, it is a fierce combination. On Sunday and Monday, it is Yamakaṇṭaka. On Sunday and Thursday, it is an accomplishment combination. On this day, having built a house, one should enter it and do painting. If there is childbirth, there is death. In the third quarter, there is all welfare; in the fourth quarter, the death of a kinsman. If there is fever, there is suffering for seven days. The food offering is khaṇḍamuṇḍaka; the worship is with jasmine and lotus flowers; the incense is bdellium; the mantra for worship is "bṛhaspate ati...". Having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the substances of ghee and milk porridge using the Sāvitrī mantra, one should present a propitiatory offering to Bṛhaspati with perfumes, garlands, and boiled rice. Beginning from the third day, at the end of seven days, he becomes healthy. If the sun's ingress occurs [in it], there is an increase in prices. || 8

5.p9

Now, Āśleṣā has four stars; it is plow-shaped, having the Serpent as deity, sharp, female, downward-facing, of the demon class, of the cat origin; its tree is the nāga tree; its bird is the hawk and crow; its letters are "kha" and "ga". Having consumed milk porridge, one should set out on a journey. At the end of thirty nāḍīs is the toxic nāḍikā. In the third quarter, death occurs within a day, along with victory over enemies. On Saturday, it is a combination causing death. On Tuesday and Wednesday, it is Yamakaṇṭaka; some wish for destruction on Tuesday; combined with Tuesday, it is a death combination. If a rainbow appears within half a ghaṭikā at sunrise when there are black and red clouds, there will be rain after seven days. (In all muhūrtas, having faced downward at the rising sign and lying down in the wedding lunar mansion, one should take the clay or obtain its fruit), it becomes one's own. At the rising of Bṛhaspati in this quarter, every undertaking of deeds succeeds without delay, as well as the accumulation of wealth. In this lunar mansion, one should dig wells and the like. If there is fever, there is suffering for nine days. The food offering is milk porridge; worship is with flax flowers; the food offering is ghee-muṇḍaka; the incense is bdellium; the mantra for worship is "madhu vātā...". One should offer a propitiatory offering to the serpents with a rice-and-lentil mash. If there is no propitiatory rite, death occurs on the eighth day. At the sun's ingress, the price is low. || 9

5.p10

Maghā has four stars; it is yoke-shaped, having the Ancestors as deities, fierce, of the demon class, of the mouse origin; its tree is the jackfruit tree; its letters are "gha" and "ṅa"; it is female, downward-facing. Having eaten partridge meat, one should set out on a journey. At the end of thirty nāḍīs are the toxic ghaṭikās. Having performed agriculture, seed sowing, storing of grain, marriage, and the first-fruits sacrifice, grain multiplies a thousandfold. One should not incur expenditure. In the month of Kārttika, it is void. On Friday, it is a combination causing death; on Sunday, a death combination; on Sunday and Monday, it is Yamakaṇṭaka; combined with the fifth tithi, it is a combination causing death. At moonrise, all things should be commenced. In this ascendant, one should also take clay for the wedding ground. If there is fever, there is death, or suffering for twenty-one days. The food offering is a pastry filled with ghee and jaggery; worship is with campaka flowers; the incense is bdellium; the mantra is "pituṃ nu stoṣam...". The substances are sesame, unbroken rice grains, and banyan leaves mixed with ghee and honey. Having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Sāvitrī mantra, one should offer a propitiatory offering to the Ancestors with unbroken rice grains and sesame. If there is no propitiatory rite, death occurs at the end of ten days. At the sun's ingress, the price is two-fold. || 10

5.p11

Pūrvaphalgunī has two stars; it is female, downward-facing, having Bhaga as deity, fierce, of the human class, of the mouse origin; its tree is the palāśa; its bird is the crow; its letter is "ca". Having eaten boiled śyāmāka grain, one should set out on a journey; there will be victory; one should repay debts. In the month of Āṣāḍha, it is void. On Friday, it is a death combination. One should perform the acquisition of gold, commencement of studies, and roofing of a house. In this month, if a halo or rainbow is seen in that lunar mansion, there will be rain on the tenth day. At the end of twenty nāḍīs is the toxic ghaṭikā. If there is fever, there is suffering for five or seven days. The incense is bilva fruit; the mantra for worship is "aryamaṇaṃ devam...". The substance is priyaṅgu grain with ghee; having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Sāvitrī mantra, one should give a propitiatory offering to Sūrya with perfume and flowers. Beginning from the sixth day, on the eighth day one becomes healthy. If there is no propitiatory rite, death occurs. At the sun's ingress, the price is middling. || 11

5.p12

Uttaraphalgunī has two stars; it is female, upward-facing, having Aryaman as deity, fixed, of the human class, of the bull origin; its bird is the krauñca; its letters are "cha" and "ja". Having drunk milk, one should set out on a journey. At the end of eighteen ghaṭikās is the toxic ghaṭikā. One should perform union in season, sīmanta, naming, first solid food, tonsure, sacred thread investiture, commencement of studies, marriage, bath, putting on clothes and ornaments, entering a village and the like, architectural work, seed-sowing, consecratory sprinkling, acquisition of cattle, and rites for nourishment. In the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, it is void. In putting on clothes and ornaments, there is great success. On Sunday, it is an accomplishment combination; some say it is void. Combined with the fourth tithi, it is a death combination. On Friday, it is a combination causing quarrel. If a halo or rainbow is seen, there will be rain on the fifth or seventh day. If there is fever, there is suffering for twenty-one days. The food offering is a rice-and-lentil mash; worship is with white karavīra; the incense is bilva fruit; the mantra for worship is "asatye va...". The substances are sesame, māṣa beans, mustard, unhusked rice, and barley. Having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Sāvitrī mantra, one should give a propitiatory offering to Aryaman with those very substances. Beginning from the eighteenth day, release from the fever occurs at the end of twenty-one days. At the sun's ingress, there is an increase in prices. || 12

5.p13

Hasta has five stars—some say four. It is male, horizontal-facing; Savitṛ is its deity; it is light [laghu] and has the luster of priyaṅgu. Its letters are jha and ña; it belongs to the divine class [devagaṇa]; its tree is the ariṣṭa; its bird is the ghaṇṭikā. One should depart on a journey after consuming milk and dried ginger […]. At the end of thirty-two nāḍikās is the poisonous period [viṣaghaṭikā]. Auspicious acts such as intercourse during the fertile period [ṛtusaṃgama] are as before. It is void in the month of Makara. On Saturday there is the yoga of death, or according to others, the yoga of poison. On Sunday there is the yoga of success; there is great success in wearing clothes and ornaments. With the seventh lunar day there is the yoga of death; (on Sunday and Friday there is extreme growth); with the fourth lunar day there is the yoga of death; with Thursday there is the yoga of quarrel; on Wednesday there is the yoga of joy. One should perform ancestral rites, installation of deities, appointing an army commander, and so forth. One should not give away money, but should only receive it, and acquire cattle. In the first quarter there is daytime death. If a rainbow is seen, there will be rain on the twenty-first day. If fever [occurs], there is death or doubt [of life]; the affliction lasts fifteen days. The food offering is apūpa cakes; the worship is with red karavīra flowers; the incense is ten-ingredient incense [daśāṅga]; the mantra for worship is "ud u tyaṃ"; the substance is curd and ghee. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering to the Sun with fragrant paste and flowers. Beginning from the fifteenth day up to the end of the twenty-first day, one will become comfortable. At the solstice [saṃkrama], the prices are moderate. || 13

5.p14

Citrā has one star. It is horizontal-facing; Tvaṣṭṛ is its deity; it is tender [mṛdu]; its animal origin is the tiger; it belongs to the demonic class [rākṣasagaṇa]; its tree is the bilva; its bird is the goose [haṃsa]; its letters are ṭa and ṭha. One should depart on a journey after eating spiced rice [citrānna]. At the end of twenty-one nāḍikās is the poisonous period. One should perform the first feeding of solid food, ear-piercing, tonsure, the sacred thread investiture, wearing of clothes and ornaments, consecratory sprinkling, ancestral rites, agriculture, and sowing seeds. It is void in the month of Vaiśākha. On Tuesday there is the yoga of destruction. With the Nandā tithis on Sunday and Tuesday, there is the moveable yoga [carayoga]. On Monday with the second lunar day there is the yoga of poison; on the thirteenth lunar day there is the yoga of death; on Wednesday there is the Yamakaṇṭaka [yoga]; on Saturday there is the yoga of destruction. When it arises in the forenoon in the month of Māgha […], there is rain. If fever [occurs], the affliction lasts five days. The food offering is modaka sweets; the worship is with hibiscus [japā] flowers; the incense is ten-ingredient incense; the mantra for worship is "citraṃ devānām"; the substances are water, sugarcane, ghee, and spiced rice. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering to Tvaṣṭṛ with ghee, sugarcane, and water. Beginning from the seventh day up to the end of the twentieth day, one will become comfortable. At the solstice, the prices are moderate. || 14

5.p15

Svātī has one star. It is red in color, female; Vāyu is its deity; it is moveable, horizontal-facing; it belongs to the divine class; its animal origin is the buffalo; its tree is the unmatta; its bird is the peacock. One should depart on a journey after eating an āmalaka fruit. At the end of fourteen nāḍikās is the poisonous period. Auspicious acts such as intercourse during the fertile period are as before. It is void in the month of Vaiśākha. On Monday there is the yoga of success; on Saturday there is the yoga of nectar; on Sunday there is the yoga of success; on Friday there is Yamakaṇṭaka; with the thirteenth lunar day there is the yoga of death; with the Nandā tithis and Tuesday there is the excellent yoga [varayoga]. One should not give away money. There is victory on the fifth lunar day of the waxing fortnight. On Saturday during the rising of Taurus [vṛṣodaya], one should construct a dam [netubandhana]. Its letter is the syllable ḍa. If fever [occurs], the affliction lasts sixty days. The food offering is curd-rice; the worship is with damanaka flowers; the incense is white agallochum [śvetāgaru]; the mantra for worship is "sa naḥ pitā"; the substance is barley-pap smeared with ghee. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering to Vāyu with fragrant paste and flowers. Beginning from the tenth day up to the end of the fortieth day, one will become comfortable. At the solstice, the prices are moderate. || 15

5.p16

Viśākhā has four stars. It is female, shaped like a winnowing basket, downward-facing; Indra and Agni are its deities; it is mixed [miśra]; its animal origin is the tiger; its tree is the vikaṅkata; its bird is the owl [piṅgala]; its letters are ḍha and ṇa. One should depart on a journey after consuming flour-water [piṣṭāmbu]. At the end of fourteen nāḍikās is the poisonous period. Auspicious rites are as before. One should perform sowing of seeds and taking clothes and ornaments. One should not give away money, but should only receive it. It is void in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa. On Sunday there is the yoga of destruction—some accept it as the yoga of poison; on Wednesday and Thursday there is Yamakaṇṭaka. In the second quarter there is daytime death. On Friday during the rising of Venus, one should begin agriculture; if one sees an enemy, it will turn out auspicious. On Saturday in this ascendant, or when the ascendant is Cancer, Scorpio, or Sagittarius, or during the hour of Mars, one should store grain. If there is a land dispute at that time, victory is achieved. If a rainbow is seen, there will be rain on the eighth day. If fever [occurs], the affliction lasts twenty days. The food offering is jaggery; the worship is with bandhūka flowers; the incense is deodar [devadāru]; the mantra for worship is "śaṃ na indrāgnī"; the offering substances for the fire oblation are milk-rice and ghee. Having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present [a propitiatory offering] to Indra and Agni with rice mixed with milk, perfumes, and garlands. Beginning from the tenth day up to the end of the twentieth day, one will become comfortable. At the solstice, the prices are cheap. || 16

5.p17

Anurādhā has six stars; its shape is a ring of wheels; male; facing horizontally; Mitra is its deity; godly class; deer womb; its tree is the vakula; its two birds are the cuckoo and the crow; its letters are 'ta', 'tha', and 'da'; at the end of twelve nāḍīs is the viṣaghaṭī; eating kusumbha, one should go on a journey; one should perform marital intercourse, simantonnayana, naming, first feeding of solid food, upanayana, beginning of education, śrāddha, sowing of seeds, and the like; it is void in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa; on Sunday, it forms an astrological combination for death—some consider it a mṛtyuyoga; on Wednesday, an amṛtayoga; on the tenth [lunar day], a fierce combination; in the third portion, daytime death; at that time, under Sagittarius ascendant and Mars amśa, gathering grain [is auspicious]; at that time there is victory in legal disputes; one should take earth for the marriage altar; if a cloud resembling a oleander flower is seen, rain falls on the third day; if there is a fever, there is distress for twenty-five days from that day, or ten days; the worship mantra is 'mitrasya carṣaṇī'; saffron unguent, lotus flower; milk porridge with ghee is the food offering, sandalwood the incense; elephant-foot yam is the principal substance for the fire oblation; having offered elephant-foot yam one hundred and eight times with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering of milk porridge with ghee, mung beans, and black gram to Mitra; beginning from the eighth day, up to the end of fifteen days, one will find relief; at the sun's ingress, the price is middling. || 17

5.p18

Jyeṣṭhā has three stars; female; shaped like an earring; facing horizontally; Indra is its deity; sharp; deer womb; its tree is the poison-tree; the bird is a cock; its letter is 'dha'; eating sesame seeds, one should go on a journey; at the end of fourteen nāḍīs is the viṣaghaṭī; some prescribe taking command of an army, śrāddha, and the sowing of winter rice; it is void in the month of Phālguna; on Sunday, an astrological combination for destruction; on Thursday and the first lunar day, a poison combination; on Monday under a Scorpio ascendant, one should dig wells and the like; if a cloud resembling a oleander flower is seen, rain falls on the tenth day; if there is a fever, death or doubt [of survival], or distress beginning from five days; diverse cooked rice is the food offering; worship with paṭolī flowers; camphor and agarwood incense; the mantra is 'indraṃ vaḥ'; tuber of elephant-foot yam with ghee is the oblational substance; having offered one hundred and eight times with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering with perfumes and flowers to Indra; if not pacified, death [occurs]—Āśvalāyana and Māṇḍavya say he goes to another destiny; at the sun's ingress, the price is low. || 18

5.p19

Mūla has nine stars; shaped like an animal; goose-colored; goose-colored; downward-facing; neuter; Nirṛti is its deity; sharp; demonic class; dog womb; its tree is the sarja; the bird is the pheasant; eating barnyard millet, one should go on a journey—some say sesame; at the end of twenty nāḍīs is the viṣaghaṭī; in the final portion, daytime death; one should perform marital intercourse, naming, first feeding of solid food, first-fruits offering, marriage, sowing of seeds, and collecting cattle; and one should perform fierce acts; one should not give away money, one should only receive it; it is void in Māgha; on Sunday, an astrological combination for death; on Tuesday with the sun, an excellent combination; when Sagittarius rises, the founding of a city [should be done]; if a red cloud is seen, rain falls on the eighth day; if there is a fever, death or doubt [of survival], or distress for ten days; fish, meat, liquor, and cakes are the food offering; worship with red aśoka flowers—in Hemādri, black chrysanthemum flowers; ram horn is the incense; the mantra is 'moṣaṇaḥ parāparā'—in Hemādri, 'brāhmaṇaḥ saravidānaḥ'; root tubers with ghee are the substance; having offered one hundred and eight times with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering of milk porridge with boiled rice to Nirṛti; at the sun's ingress, an increase in prices. || 19

5.p20

Pūrvāṣāḍhā has two stars; female; downward-facing; the Waters are its deity; fierce; human class; monkey womb; its tree is the monkey-fruit tree; the parrot is the bird; the letters are from 'sa' to 'va'; eating kṛsara, one should go on a journey; at the end of twenty-four nāḍīs is the viṣaghaṭī; one should collect cattle and sow winter rice; one should also dig wells and the like, begin education, undertake vows, enter, and construct reservoirs; one should not give away money, one should only receive it; it is void in the month of Śrāvaṇa; on Monday, a poison combination; on Tuesday at the rising of Gemini, one should begin [building] ramparts (and deeds protecting other fortifications); in this ascendant, digging wells and the like [is performed]; if a reddish cloud is seen, rain falls on the fifth day; if there is a fever, distress for twenty-five days; maṇḍaka cakes are the food offering; worship with white water-lily flowers; realgar is the incense; the worship mantra is 'āpo hi ṣṭhā'; red rice is the substance; having offered one hundred and eight times with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering of milk porridge and ghee to Varuṇa; beginning from the fourteenth day, up to the end of twenty days, one will find relief; at the sun's ingress, the price is low. || 20

5.p21

Uttarāṣāḍhā has two stars; female; upward-facing; the Viśvedevas are its deity; fixed; human class; cow womb; its tree is the jackfruit; the bird is the piṅgala; the letter is 'bha'; one should sell elephants and mount elephants (and one should perform the erection of gnomons and Indra's banner); having eaten sesame, one should go on a journey; at the end of twenty nāḍīs is the viṣaghaṭī; one should perform marital intercourse and other auspicious acts; it is void in the month of Vaiśākha; on Monday, an astrological combination for death; on Sunday, a success-yielding combination; on Tuesday, a quarrel combination; on Saturday, a combination for death; on Friday, a combination of joy; with the third [lunar day], a combination for death; if a red cloud is seen, rain falls on the eleventh day; if there is a fever, distress for twenty days; five kinds of sweets are the food offering; worship with flowers of five colors; lac is the incense; the worship mantra is 'viśvedevāsa ā gata'; pieces of boswellia with ghee are the substance; having offered one hundred and eight times with the Sāvitrī [mantra], one should present a propitiatory offering of milk porridge with boiled rice to the Viśvedevas; beginning from the eleventh day, up to the end of twenty days, one will find relief; at the sun's ingress, an increase in prices. || 21

5.p22

Śroṇā (Śravaṇa) has three stars, shaped like a staff; male; facing upward; its deity is Viṣṇu; movable; divine class; monkey womb-source; banyan tree; peacock bird; the letters here are 'ma'; the poisonous period is after the tenth nāḍī; one should set out on a journey after drinking water; one should perform copulation in season, hair-parting, naming, first solid food feeding, tonsure, investiture with the sacred thread, consecratory sprinkling, adorning with ornaments, agriculture, sowing seeds, ear-piercing, and the like; one should also perform marriage, ancestral rites, sacrifices, and the like; empty in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa; on Sunday it is Siddhayoga; on Monday it is Mṛtyuyoga; on the fifth lunar day, in the ascendant of Leo, Cancer, Scorpio, or Sagittarius, in the lunar degree, one should store grain; in starting a lawsuit, there is victory; on Monday at sunrise, in the second degree, having commenced a house, one should enter it; if a cloud is seen, there is rain; if there is fever, there is suffering for two months, or it is uncertain; a round cake with milk, sugar, and ghee is the food offering; worship with jasmine flowers; tenfold incense; the worship mantra is 'ato devāḥ'; red husked rice is the material for homa; having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Gāyatrī, one should offer a propitiatory offering to Viṣṇu with fragrant paste and flowers; at the end of a month or at the end of a year, he will be happy; at the planetary transit, prices increase. 22.

5.p23

Dhaniṣṭhā has five stars, manifestly shaped, shaped like a mṛdaṅga drum; female; facing upward; its deity is the Vasus; movable; demonic class; lion womb-source; śamī tree; the letter is 'ma'; having eaten barley meal, one should set out on a journey; the poisonous period is after ten nāḍīs; auspicious rites such as copulation in season are as before; empty in the month of Āṣāḍha; on Tuesday it is Viṣayoga, according to some, Nāśayoga; on Saturday at Saturn's rising, one should build an orchard enclosure; in this ascendant, one should also engage in battle; at Mars's rising, one should conduct commerce, accumulate wealth, and engage in battle; in the first degree, death [occurs]; if a red cloud is seen, rain occurs on the twentieth day; if there is fever, suffering lasts for five days; milk porridge is the food offering; worship with a hundred or a thousand flowers; bdellium incense; the mantra is 'trāyantām iha devāḥ'; fuel sticks of bilva, udumbara, and aśvattha are the sacrificial material; having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Gāyatrī, one should offer a propitiatory offering to the Vasus with mung beans mixed with ghee; beginning from the tenth day, he will be happy at the end of fifteen days, or at the end of thirteen months; at the planetary transit, prices are moderate. 23.

5.p24

Śatabhiṣak has a hundred stars, shaped like a cluster of flowers; neuter; facing upward; its deity is Varuṇa; movable; demonic class; horse womb-source; kadamba tree; kaṇṭakī bird; the letters are 'ra' and 'la'; one should perform first solid food feeding, tonsure, rite for securing male progeny, ear-piercing, maintaining sacred fire, sowing grain, ancestral rites, and taking up weapons; empty in the month of Proṣṭhapada; on Tuesday it is Maraṇayoga, according to some, Mṛtyuyoga; on Saturday it is Yamakaṇṭaka; with an auspicious day, Sunday and Tuesday bring Maraṇayoga; on Thursday it is Mṛtyuyoga; on Sunday or Tuesday in the ascendant of Cancer, one should take medicine; in this ascendant, one should reap crops; having eaten rice cakes, one should set out on a journey; the poisonous period is after eighteen nāḍīs; if there is fever, having offered oblations for ten days, one should offer a propitiatory offering with milk porridge rice; beginning from the sixth day, he will be happy at the end of the twelfth day; at the planetary transit, prices are low. 24.

5.p25

Pūrvābhādrapadā has two stars; female; facing downward; its deity is Aja Ekapād; fierce; human class; lion womb-source; mango tree; the letters are 'va' and 'śa'; the bird is a dove; having eaten jaggery, one should set out on a journey; the poisonous period is after sixteen nāḍīs; empty in the month of Āśvina; one should perform the gathering of cattle and the beginning of study; one should not give money away, one should only take it; on Tuesday it is Nāśayoga; in the last degree, the planting of betel vines and the like [should be done]; in the second degree at Venus's rising, digging wells and the like [should be done]; if a red cloud is seen, rain occurs on the eighth day; if there is fever, death occurs, or it is uncertain, with suffering for twenty-two days; yogurt and ghee are the food offering; worship with calotropis flowers; incense of all medicinal herbs; the mantra is 'śan no aja ekapāt'; pieces of ash gourd with ghee are the material; having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Gāyatrī, one should offer a propitiatory offering to Aja Ekapād with fragrant unguents, garlands, and the like, and also to Indra and the others; if there is no propitiatory rite, death occurs; at the planetary transit, prices are moderate. 25.

5.p26

Uttarābhādrapadā has two stars; male; facing upward; its deity is Ahirbudhnya; human class; fixed; cow womb-source; neem tree; cakra bird; the letters are 'kṣa' and 'sa'; having eaten meat, one should set out on a journey; the poisonous period is after twenty-four nāḍīs; one should perform copulation in season, hair-parting, naming, and gathering of food and cattle; if a sick person takes a bath, he will be happy; empty in Śrāvaṇa and Mārgaśīrṣa; with the third lunar day it is Maraṇayoga; on Tuesday it is Mṛtyuyoga; on Sunday it is Siddhiyoga; in the third quarter, death occurs within a day; if a red cloud is seen, rain occurs on the eleventh day; if there is fever, suffering lasts for ten days; rice combined with jaggery is the food offering; karañja leaves are the flower; ghee is the incense; the worship mantra is 'viṣṇur yonim'; black gram and mung beans soaked in ghee are the material; having offered one hundred and eight oblations with the Gāyatrī, one should offer a propitiatory offering to Ahirbudhnya with fragrant paste and flowers; at the planetary transit, prices increase. 26.

5.p27

Revatī: thirty-two stars; male; yellow-formed; facing sidewise; deity is Pūṣan; gentle; divine class; elephant womb; madhūka tree; tawny owl bird; syllable ha; having eaten milk porridge, one should depart on a journey; poison-period at the end of thirty nāḍīs; void in the month of Bhādrapada; one should perform rites beginning with sexual intercourse after the menstrual period as stated for Uttarābhādrapadā; combination for accomplishment on Sunday; combination for poison on Wednesday and Monday; combination for destruction on Saturday; combination for poison with the eighth day; combination for accomplishment on Friday; fierce combination with the seventh day; if fever arises, affliction lasts twelve days; food offering of sesame, rice, and flour; worship with mandāra flowers; bdellium incense; the mantra is 'Haṃsaḥ śuciṣat...'; material is banana fruits together with ghee and mango fruit; having offered one hundred and eight fire oblations with the Sāvitrī mantra, one should offer a propitiatory offering with perfumes, flowers, and the like to Pūṣan; starting from the fifth day, one becomes comfortable at the end of twenty days; at a solstice/transit, moderate prices; Gargya, Māṇḍavya, and others say prices increase. || 27

5.p28

Thus ends the knowledge of lunar mansions declared in the Madanaratna, in the Śāntiratna.
In the Vasiṣṭhasaṃhitā:
I shall explain the propitiation for disease of embodied beings afflicted with illness,
by means of propitiatory offerings, subsidiary fire oblations of worship, recitation, and feeding Brahmins.
At whatever lunar mansion a disease arises in human beings,
at that time, worship of that lunar mansion is to be performed to satisfy its ruling deity.

5.p29

Having fashioned an image of the lunar mansion with half a pala of gold or with half of that half,
according to one's wealth,
one should draw in the north-east, or in the east, or in the northern direction,
an eight-petalled lotus with rice grains on a circle made of cow dung.

5.p30

Having bathed it with the five nectars and water separately with their respective mantras,
one should then install the image with the mantra specified in the manual.
Having placed it properly on the pericarp, having meditated upon the deity, one should worship it,
with garments, sandal paste, and the like of its corresponding color, with flowers, incense, and presents.
And a pitcher of reddish color, endowed with five sprouts,
accompanied by white cloth, gold, jewels, and the hundred herbs,
endowed with earth, the five bovine products, good seeds, fruits, substances, and kuśa grass,
having placed the deity to the east, one should worship it with their respective mantras.
Then, to the east of that, one should duly establish the fire on an earthen mound.
At the end of the opening rites, one should offer eight thousand fire oblations with the prescribed substance,
with the prescribed substance that will be mentioned in the propitiatory rite for each lunar mansion.
A sesame fire oblation with the vyāhṛtis one thousand and eight times,
and one should properly offer the full fire oblation preceded by recitation.
Then, for the patient who is seated comfortably and facing east,
one should perform the ritual sprinkling with the pitcher-water consecrated by mantras,
using the Liṅga and water-mantras, preceded by a proper ritual resolution.
And [perform] the waving of lights; being purified in mind, having come to the place of worship,
having bowed with devotion to the deity and the fire, one should pray:
'O sole ruler of sacrifice, born of nectar, whose essence is supreme,
protect me from this disease; and the protectors of the lunar mansions are under your control.'

5.p31

Having prayed thus, one should then give with devotion the image accompanied by garments,
along with the priestly fee, to the preceptor who has a family.
Then one should feed Brahmins with food to the best of one's ability.
Having performed the worship of the lunar mansion, and also of the lunar day and weekday,

5.p32

the sick person attains all desires and is completely freed from disease.
The meaning is that having performed the previously stated procedure, one should perform the propitiatory rite for the lunar day and weekday.

5.p33

An illness that arises in Aśvinī leaves in seven nights.
For the mantra 'Devasya tvā...', the meter is Gāyatrī, the seer is Kāśyapa, the deities are the Aśvins;
they are white-colored, filled with nectar, each holding a pitcher and a lotus;
sandalwood, blue lotus flowers, ghee, and bdellium, dear to both;
eaters of milk-laddus; the firewood sticks are those born from milk-bearing trees.

5.p34

Ghee and bdellium are the incense; fire oblation is with firewood sticks; likewise hereafter.
One should present a propitiatory offering of jaggery-rice along with lamps at nightfall. || 1

5.p35

An illness that arises in Bharaṇī gives death before long;
or it leaves in a month; crooked is the course of destiny.
For the Tryambaka mantra, the meter, seer, and deity have been stated;
the perfume is agallochum, the flower is oleander, and the incense is bdellium;
a ghee lamp for all, and the food offering is jaggery-rice;
[Yama] holds a noose and a staff, is red; ghee, honey, and unbroken rice grains are the sacrificial offering;
mounted on the king of buffaloes, one should present a propitiatory offering of sesame-rice;
one should properly offer the propitiatory offering with the mantra that will be mentioned. || 2

5.p36

An illness that arises in Kṛttikā leaves in ten nights.
[Agni] grants boons and fearlessness with spoon and ladle, [accompanied by] his own retinue, riding a ram;
for 'Punantu mām...', Medhātithi is the seer, Jagatī the meter, Agni the deity;
sandalwood, jasmine flower, ghee-incense, and good bdellium;
the food offering is rice with sesame and black gram, accompanied by vaṭaka cakes and ghee;
jaggery-rice is the sacrificial offering there; one should present a propitiatory offering with milk porridge. || 3

5.p37

An illness that arises in Rohiṇī leaves in ten nights.
For the mantra 'Namo brahmaṇe...', Gāyatrī is the meter, Brahmā the seer, and Īśvara the deity;
white, granting boons and fearlessness with a water pot and rosary in hand;
sandalwood, lotus flower, and the ten-ingredient incense and bdellium;
the food offering is milk porridge with ghee; the sacrificial offering should be rice for all deities. || 4

5.p38

An illness that arises in the lunar mansion of the Moon (Mṛgaśīrṣa) leaves in five nights;
holding a mace and granting boons in his hands, white, riding a chariot drawn by deer;
for 'Navo navo bhavati...', Gāyatrī is the meter, Gautama the seer, the Moon the deity;
sandalwood, white water lily flower, ten-ingredient incense, milk-rice porridge;
the food offering is mandaka cake and flower, accompanied by honey;
one should present a propitiatory offering with white rice mixed with sugar and curd. || 5

5.p39

An illness that arises in Ārdrā gives death before long;
or it leaves in a month; crooked is the course of destiny;
resembling pure crystal, granting fearlessness and wishes with a trident and sword;
for 'Namaḥ śaṅkarāya...', Bṛhatī is the meter, Īśa the deity, Brahmā the seer;
sandalwood, fragrant flower, ten-ingredient incense, milk-rice porridge;
honey and ghee are the sacrificial offering there; one should present a propitiatory offering of curd-rice. || 6

5.p40

An illness arising in Punarvasu releases in seven nights. / [The deity] always holds a water pot, a rosary, firewood sticks, darbha grass, a sruk and a sruva. / Of the mantra 'aditi r dyaur' the meter is triṣṭubh, and the sage is Druhiṇa, the deity is Aditi. / Turmeric and saffron are the perfume, the flowers are śāmantikā and the like. / The incense is sandalwood; flour, rice cooked with ghee, yellow in color; / the sacrificial offering is grains smeared with ghee; one should offer a propitiatory offering with yellow-colored food. (7)

5.p41

An illness arising in Puṣya releases in seven nights. / Yellow, holding a staff, a water pot, and a rosary, intent on granting fearlessness. / For 'bṛhaspate ati', the meter is triṣṭubh, the sage is Jīva-Āṅgirasa. / Saffron, lotus is the flower, the food-offering is milk porridge with ghee. / Accompanied by maṇḍakā pastries and jaggery—this very thing should be the sacrificial offering. / One should present the propitiatory offering there with rice with ghee accompanied by maṇḍakā. (8)

5.p42

An illness arising in Āśleṣā releases with difficulty in a month. / For the mantra 'namo astu', Havyavāṭ is the sage, the king of serpents is the deity;

5.p43

honey-colored, endowed with hoods, bearing a sword and shield, auspicious. / Scented with saffron and aloe; and the flower is from the agastya tree. / Ghee and bdellium are the incense here; milk and ghee are the food-offering;

5.p44

the sacrificial offering is with ghee, good curd-rice; one should offer a propitiatory offering of curd-rice. (9)

5.p45

An illness arising in the Pitṛ lunar mansion [Maghā] quickly causes death; / or the pacification [occurs] in half a month. [The deity is] smoke-colored, holding a staff and a strainer;

5.p46

for the verse 'ā yantu naḥ', the meter is jagatī, the Pitṛs are the deity, the lotus-born [Brahmā] is the sage. / Sandalwood is the perfume, campaka is the flower, the incense is bdellium with ghee;

5.p47

the food-offering is rice flour with ghee; sesame-rice with ghee is the sacrificial offering. / With sesame and ghee, and mung bean-rice is the propitiatory offering to satisfy the Pitṛs. (10)

5.p48

An illness arising in Pūrvaphalgunī releases in half a month. / For 'bhaga eva bhagavān', the meter is triṣṭubh, Bhaga is the deity, Vidhi is the sage;

5.p49

granting fearlessness with a lotus, lotus-colored, seated on a lion-throne. / Sandalwood is the perfume, mālatī is the flower, bilva is the incense, rice cooked with ghee [is offered];

5.p50

the food-offering is combined with sugar, cakes, and sweet ladduka balls. / Rice cooked with ghee is the sacrificial offering there; one should offer a propitiatory offering of milk porridge. (11)

5.p51

An illness arising in the constellation of Aryaman [Uttaraphālgunī] releases in half a month. / Lotus-colored, seated on a lotus, with radiance like the interior of a lotus. / For the mantra 'aryamāya', the deity is Aryaman, the meter is triṣṭubh, the lotus-born [Brahmā] is the sage. / Camphor and saffron are the perfume, the flower is named vakula;

5.p52

ghee and bdellium are the incense here, milk porridge with ghee is the food-offering. / The substance for the fire oblation is rice cooked with ghee, and one should offer a propitiatory offering with white rice. (12)

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Linked texts (1)

Śāntikamalākara — Kamalākarabhaṭṭa 1587, Sanskrit