History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c43.113

v3.c43.113

*Hiraṇyagarbha:*—(Matsya 275, Liṅgapurāṇa II. 29). The preliminary procedure about the pandal, the time, place, the materials, the puṇyāhavācana, the invocation of the lords of quarters is the same in this and the other mahādānas as in tulāpuruṣa. The donor should then bring forward a golden kuṇḍa (basin or vessel) 72 fingers high and 48 broad and having the shape of a *muraja* (tabor) but looking like the interior surface of a golden lotus (with eight petals). The golden vessel (it is called Hiraṇyagarbha) should be placed on a heap of sesame. Then the golden vessel is to be addressed with paurāṇika mantras, identifying it with Hiraṇyagarbha²⁰⁴¹ (the Creator). He should then enter the golden vessel, sit facing the north, hold in his hands golden images of Brahmā and Dharmarāja and hold his head for five breaths between his knees (to simulate the position of the foetus in the mother's womb). The guru then repeats on the golden vessel the mantras of garbhādhāna, puṁsavana and sīmantonnayana (and mentally revolves the other procedure of these); the guru thereafter makes the donor rise out of the golden vessel to the accompaniment of auspicious music. Then the remaining twelve saṁskāras are²⁰⁴² performed symbolically on the donor, who repeats the mantra to Hiraṇyagarbha and says 'formerly I was born from my mother but only as a mortal, now being born of you I shall assume a divine body.' Then the donor, seated on a golden seat, is bathed with the mantra 'devasya tvā' (vide above note 653a) and he distributes the golden vessel among the guru and other priests.