History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.514.5

v4.c62.514.5

On the 6th day from the time the rites begin which is the day previous to the starting of the invasion the king undergoes a ceremonial bath for victory called *jayābhiṣeka*. This is described at great length in the Rājanītiprakāśa pp. 351-395 quoting extensive passages from the Liṅgapurāṇa. The ceremony of *Jayasnāna* resembles the coronation ceremony in many respects. The Matsyapurāṇa 243. 15-16 and the Viṣṇudharmottara II. 163. 18-31 contain the same long list (with very slight variations) of articles, persons and animals the sight of which is auspicious when the king starts on an invasion and Matsya (243. 2-14) contains another long list of inauspicious sights. A few of the auspicious ones are white flowers, jars full of water, cows, horses, elephants, fire in flames, a courtesan, dūrvā grass, gold, silver, copper, all gems, sword, umbrella, banner, corpse not accompanied by crying persons, fruits, the *svastika* sign. Among the inauspicious things and sights are dark grains, cotton, dried cowdung, fuel, jaggery, tonsured or naked man or man with dishevelled hair or wearing reddish robes, a lunatic, a cāṇḍāla, a pregnant woman, broken pot, chaff, ashes, bones. The Mānasollāsa II. 13 verses 811-823 (pp. 102-103), Nītimayūkha pp. 58-59 also give long lists of inauspicious and auspicious sights or events. Matsya 243. 27 and Viṣṇudharmottara II. 163.