History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c42.64

v3.c42.64

In modern times the ceremony of entering a newly built house is an important one, is an extensive affair and marked by great *éclat*. A very auspicious day is required for this ceremony and numerous astrological considerations enter into the choosing of a proper day. The ceremony of an entrance is preceded on the same day or on the previous day by a vāstuśānti (propitiatory rite) of which grahamakha (a rite for propitiating the planets) forms a part and the usual rites of worship of Gaṇeśa and the like (mentioned at pp. 213-218) have also to be performed. A few salient features are mentioned here. A maṇḍala is drawn divided into 81 squares, 62 *devatās* are invoked to be present in the maṇḍala, then a homa is offered to the nine planets with 28 oblations of fuel sticks, sesame and ājya to each planet and oblations are offered to other deities, the performer and his wife have holy water sprinkled over their heads from auspicious jars, the house is surrounded thrice with thread beginning from the east to the accompaniment of Rākṣoghna (Ṛg. IV. 4. 1-15 or X. 87. 1-25) and Pavamāna (Ṛg. IX. 1. 1-10) mantras and round the house water is continuously poured in a stream from a jar with the same two hymns. A pit is dug in the south-east corner of the house which is cowdunged, worshipped with flowers and sandalwood paste and a baked brick box containing seven kinds of corn, moss, flowers &c. is lowered into it and the pit is filled up. Then the house is entered to the accompaniment of music by the owner who is accompanied by his wife, sons and brāhmaṇas and who holds in his folded hands an auspicious jar filled with water and having fresh sprouts, dūrvā grass thereon and marked with sandalwood paste and flowers and covered with cloth. The svasti hymn (vide note 1963 above) and the hymn beginning with 'kranikradat' (Ṛg. II. 42. 1-3) are recited and the auspicious jar is put down on a heap of corn. Then the brāhmaṇas perform puṇyāhavācana (vide note 503 above), they are honoured and utter 'may the house be lucky', dinner is given to the brāhmaṇas who pronounce benedictions, and the owner then takes his meal with his friends.¹⁹⁷²