History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c44.57

v3.c44.57

*Jīrṇoddhāra* (rehabilitating old or dilapidated temples &c.). This subject is closely connected with the preceding topic and is dealt with in the Agnipurāṇa, chap. 67 and 103 (about liṅgas); the Nirṇayasindhu (III. pūrvārdha p. 353), the Dharmasindhu (III. pūrvārdha p. 335) give an extensive procedure following the Agnipurāṇa. This is done when the image in a temple or a liṅga is burnt, or reduced to particles or is removed to another place. The Agnipurāṇa (103. 4) says that if an image or liṅga is carried off by the strong current of a river, it may be re-consecrated elsewhere according to the rites prescribed in the śāstra. According to the Agnipurāṇa²⁰⁹⁷ (103. 21) a liṅga that is reputed to have been established by the asuras (like Bāṇāsura) or famous sages or by gods or by those who were expert in Tantra should not be removed to another place, whether it be worn out or broken, even after the performance of prescribed rites. The Agnipurāṇa prescribes (chap. 67. 3-6) that an image of wood when extremely worn out may be burnt, one of stone may be thrown into water, one made of metal or of a jewel (pearl &c.) should be thrown into very deep water or the sea after carrying it covered with cloth in a cart to the accompaniment of music and on the same day another of the same dimensions and substance should be installed after the purification of the image is effected. When the daily worship of an image had been stopped of set purpose or when it is touched by śūdras and the like, purification can be effected only by re-consecration. Re-consecration can be done even in intercalary months or when Venus is too near the sun to be visible. When a temple or a well or a tank is breached or when a garden embankment or a public hall is injured, one should offer four oblations of clarified butter with the four verses 'idam Viṣṇur' (Ṛg. I. 22.17), 'mā nastoke' (Ṛg. I. 114. 8), 'Viṣṇoḥ karmāṇi' (Ṛg. I. 22. 19), 'pādosya' (Ṛg. X. 90. 3), and then a dinner may be given to brāhmaṇas.