History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c74.76

v5.c74.76

The digests quote certain verses of the Brahmapurāna about the rites to be performed when a person decides to start on a pilgrimage. The Brahmapurāna provides that the intending pilgrim should restrain his senses the previous day, should observe a fast and on the next day he should offer worship to Ganeśa, the gods, the pitrs and honour good brāhmanas according to his ability and when he returns from the pilgrimage he should offer similar worship and honour.¹²⁹⁴ The digests explain that on return there is no fast and no worship of Gaṇeśa. He should perform śrāddha in which there is plenty of ghee, honour three brāhmaṇas (at least) with the offer of sandalwood paste &c. and then make a resolve (*saṅkalpa*) to go on pilgrimage The Vāyupurāṇa ¹²⁹⁵ and the digests lay down that (after the worship of Gaṇeśa, the planets and the deities) he should put on the dress of a *kārpaṭī* viz. wear a copper-ring, a copper bracelet and reddish garments. Bhaṭṭoji (p 5) states that according to some the apparel of kārpaṭika is to be put on by a pilgrim going to Gayā. The Padma (IV. 19. 22) prescribes the pilgrim's dress for other tīrthas also. The Tīr. C. adds that this dress is to be worn only on the journey to a tīrtha, when the pilgrim is in a tīrtha, but not at the time of performing his daily duties such as taking meals (p. 9).