History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c43.122

v3.c43.122

*Kāmadhenu*:—(Matsya 279, Liṅga II. 35). The figures of a cow and a calf should be made from very pure gold, either one thousand or 500 or 250 *palas* in weight and one without much wealth may make them from even three *palas* of gold. The skin of a black antelope should be spread over the altar, thereon a *prastha* of jaggery should be kept and on it the golden cow should be placed being decked with jewels, surrounded by eight auspicious jars, fruits, eighteen kinds of grains, chowries, copper vessel, lamps, an umbrella, two silken garments, bells, neck ornaments &c. The donor should invoke the cow with *paurāṇika mantras* and then make a gift of the cow and calf to the guru. Hemādri (dānakhaṇḍa, pp. 265–274) quotes passages from the Matsya, Agni, and Liṅga purāṇas and from the Kāmika and other works.