Shantikamalakara 5.p16

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