History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c44.48.2

v3.c44.48.2

Having spread in a river or a pond or in a vessel filled with water cloth and kuśa grass with the mantras beginning ‘ye te śatam’ (mentioned in Vaik. III. 17) he lays down (the image of) the god on these with the head turned to the east and leaves the image there. On the second day after he bathes, he offers at night the āghāra in the usual way; he brings eight jars, fills them successively with pañcagavya, ghee, curds, milk, water mixed with whole rice, water with fruits, water with kuśa grass, water with jewels (pearls &c.); worships the god, bathes the image with the (contents of) the (eight) jars successively with the following mantras: 'vasoḥ pavitram' (Vāj. S. I. 31), 'agna āyāhi', 'iṣe tvorje tvā,' 'śaṁ no devīr,'²⁰⁹³ 'catvāri śṛṅgā' (Ṛg. IV. 58. 3), 'somo dhenum' (Ṛg. I. 91. 26), 'catvāri vāk' (Ṛg. I. 164. 45), 'idam viṣṇur' (Ṛg. I. 22. 17); he further bathes the image with perfumed waters to the accompaniment of the mantras 'āpo' (Ṛg. X. 9. 1), 'hiraṇyavarṇāḥ' (Tai. S. V. 6. 1. 1) and the pavamāna section. He then makes to the north of the fire a vedi (altar) with rice, places a seat on it, spreads cloth on it, places the god thereon and having decked (the image) with clothes &c. worships the image. He has the benediction pronounced (by the brāhmaṇas), he touches the pratisara (a band or ribbon) with the svasti hymn²⁰⁹⁴ and ties it (on the right hand of the image) with the mantra 'svastidā viśaspatir' (Ṛg. X. 152. 2). He then lays the god down as before.