History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c44.34

v3.c44.34

Hemādri (Dāna. pp. 1029-1055) deals at length with the planting of trees, the dedication of a garden and the merit acquired by making gifts of various trees. The procedure of dedicating a garden is prescribed in Śāṅ. gṛ. V. 3, Āśv. gṛ. pariśiṣṭa IV. 10, the Matsyapurāṇa 59, Agnipurāṇa 70 and in many other works. It is modelled on the dedication of wells and tanks. The Matsyapurāṇa expressly states that the procedure of the consecration of a tank is extended to the consecration of everything, such as a *prāsāda* (a large house or hall for public use), a garden &c., the only difference being that the mantras are different.²⁰⁸⁸ The procedure in Śāṅ. gṛ.²⁰⁸⁹ (V. 3) is: Having established the sacred fire in that garden and having cooked a mess of food, the donor should sacrifice with the words (Viṣṇave svāhā, Indrāgnibhyām svāhā, Viśvakarmaṇe svāhā) and with verses Ṛg. III. 8. 6 ff. (yāṅ vo naro), verse by verse. Then he recites over the garden the verse Ṛg. III. 8. 11 'vanaspate śatavalśo vi roha.' The fee for the sacrifice is gold.