History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.426

v5.c71.s1.426

Some of the digests prescribe certain times for the performance of penance. The first rule is laid down by Hārı̄ta that having done something sinful or improper through trustfulness, affection, greed, fear or heedlessness one should resort to purification at once Daksa²⁶⁸ II. 73 also states that all *naimittika* and *kāmya* matters must be performed as they fall due and no delay should be caused. If more than a year is allowed to pass after the sin is incurred the penance would have to be double of what it otherwise would have been, according to Devala and Manu.268a The Pr. T. (pp 474, 512) quotes a verse from the Vyavahāracintāmaṇi²⁶⁹ and an astrological work to the effect that a penance or ordeal should not be administered on the 8th or 14th *tithi* of a month, nor should an ordeal or marriage take place on a Saturday or Tuesday. The Prāyaścittenduśekhara (p 15) says that according to respectable people (*śiṣṭas*) the *saṅkalpa* (declaration of undergoing a penance) should be made on the 14th *tithi* and the actual rite should be performed on the *amāvāsyā*. If the guilty person is in mourning he may perform penance after the period of mourning is over.