History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c26.370

v2.c26.370

The Sm. C. and other digests state that in the gāndharva, āsura, rākṣasa and paiśāca homa and *saptapadī* are necessary and they quote Devala and the Gr̥hyapariśiṣṭa in support. The Mahābhārata (Ādi. 195. 7)¹²¹⁴ expressly says that even after svayaṁvara religious rites had to be performed. Kālidāsa in Raghuvaṁśa VII describes how after the svayaṁvara of Indumatī the principal religious rites of madhuparka, homa, going round the fire, pāṇigrahaṇa took place. Since Āśvalāyana first speaks of eight forms and then prescribes the performance of homa and saptapadī, he implies that these are necessary in all forms.