History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c37.90.4

v3.c37.90.4

204) quotes a purāṇa to the effect 'He, whose heart contemplates the form of Viṣṇu, on whose lips there is ever the name of Viṣṇu, who partakes of the *naivedya* offered to Viṣṇu and who places on his head the water in which the feet of an image of Viṣṇu are washed and the *nirmālya* of Viṣṇu, never falls off (from heaven).' The Madanapārijāta (p. 303) quotes passages from the Viṣṇu-dharmottara about the flowers, that are not to be used in worship. In Śiva worship the following flowers and leaves are in an ascending grade of worth; viz. arka flowers, karavīra flowers, bilva leaves, flower of droṇa, leaves of apāmārga, flower of kuśa, śamī leaves, blue lotus leaves, dhattūra flower, śamī flower, blue lotus, which is the best (vide Pūjāprakāśa, p. 210). The Madanapārijāta, p. 303 quotes from the Devīpurāṇa verses which enumerate the flowers that are to be avoided in Śiva worship. If no flowers are available, then a fruit may be offered or if no fruit is available then only leaves and lastly only white whole grains of rice or even water may be offered.¹⁷⁴⁴ Lamps are to be fed with ghee or in its absence with sesame oil.¹⁷⁴⁵ Camphor is to be burnt before the image. There is a ceremony called *ārātrika* (waving lights round the image) performed with several lights or pieces of camphor placed in a broad vessel which is held in both hands and waved round an image and over its head. Vide Pūjāprakāśa, pp. 75 and 87.