History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1144

v6.c81.1144

*Āśvinakṛtya*—Vide KR 301-397, VKK 343-458, NS 144-192, SMK 287-373, KT 444-447. This month has numerous observances and festivals. The important ones will be separately entered in the list A few lesser ones are noted here V. Dh (90. 24-25) provides that by donating ghee everyday in this month, a man pleases Aśvins and becomes handsome and by feeding brāhmaṇas with cow's milk (and its products) he secures a kingdom On śu 1 there is mother's father's śrāddha by a grandson whose father is alive (vide H. of Dh. vol. IV p. 533); on that day also begins Navarātra; on śu 4 worship of Satī (Pārvatī who threw herself in a lake on that date) with arghya, flowers &c. and honour is to be paid to chaste women, mother, sister and other women whose husbands are alive (KKN 404, KR 348), on śu. 5 nāgas made of kuśa grass and Indrāṇī are to be worshipped (NA 47, KR 348), in bright half on a tithi with an auspicious nakṣatra and muhūrta going to field having ripe crops with music and dance, one should offer homa and should eat the new corn with curds as also new grapes (KKN 405, KR 303); in Śukla pakṣa when there is nakṣatra Svāti Uccaiḥśravas (Sun's horse) first carried the Sun and hence he and one's horses should be honoured by an owner of horses (KKN 407, KR 347); in śu. pakṣa on Mūla one should invite Sarasvatī, establish her on Pūrvāṣāḍhā in books, offer oblations to her on Uttarāṣāḍhā and take leave of her on Śravaṇa and one should not read, teach or write during these days (NS 171, SmK 352, PC 73). In Tamil lands Sarasvatī-pūjā in books on Āśv. śu. 9; Tulāmāsa (Āśv.) is sacred for bath in Kāverī river; and on Amāvāsyā there is a special bath in Kāverī river.