History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c42.10.3

v3.c42.10.3

Some count the days till Pratyavarohaṇa¹⁹⁴⁹ (from Śrāvaṇa full moon) and offer the same number of balis on that very day (on which the śravaṇā rite takes place)." The Śāṅ. gṛ. IV. 15 has a similar ceremony called Śravaṇākarma; however it practically contains nothing beyond rules about the bali to serpents and it is worthy of note that some of the 16 upacāras associated with honouring a guest and with *devapūjā* are employed (in it and in Āp. gṛ. &c.) for honouring the serpents viz. offering a comb, unguents, flowers, thread (*vastra*), collyrium, mirror. The Pār. gṛ. II. 14 is more elaborate as to *sarpabali* and the deities to whom the oblations of cooked food are offered are 'Viṣṇu, Śravaṇa (*nakṣatra*), the Full moon day of Śrāvaṇa and the rainy season.' In Pār. gṛ. also, a comb, ointment, collyrium, garlands are offered to the serpents. Āp. gṛ. 18. 5-12, Hīr. gṛ. II. 16 (S. B. E. vol. 30, pp. 237-239), Gobhila gṛ. III. 7. 1-23, Bhār. gṛ. II. 1, Baud. gṛ. III. 10, Mānava gṛ. II. 16 and others contain similar elaborate rules about sarpabali, the Hir. gṛ. and Āp. gṛ. requiring that the flowers used should be of the *kiṁśuka* tree. It appears that when the husband was absent the wife was to offer the bali during the four months. The Mānava gṛ. II. 16. 6 adds that even the śūdra wife of a brāhmaṇa should silently offer the bali after washing her hands. Vide Śāṅ. gṛ. IV. 15. 20 also for the wife doing it silently.