History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.125.1

v6.c81.125.1

Manu II. 176 and Yāj. I. 99, 100, 102 show that *Devapūjā* is different from⁷⁶ *homa* and was performed after the latter according to Marīci and Hārīta quoted in the Smṛticandrikā, Smṛti-muktā- phala and other digests Certain matters connected with devapūjā such as the questions whether images of gods were worshipped in the times of the Ṛgveda and the Saṃhitās, whether the worship of images arose spontaneously among the Vedic Aryans or whether it was derived from some other race or sectarians or from śūdras and Dravidian tribes, have already been dealt with at some length in H of Dh vol II pp 705-712 Similarly, descriptions of devapūjā and the several items and stages in the procedure of devapūjā have been set out in H of Dh. vol. II pp 726-735 A few matters either not set out there at all or briefly set out may be spoken of here It should be noted that ordinarily there are 16 upacāras⁷⁷ (items of showing honour) in the procedure of devapūjā, but they may be increased to 36 or 38 or reduced to 14, 12, 10 or 5 and there is no complete unanimity on the question of the names of the 16 upacāras and their order. The Brahmavaivartapurāṇa sets out what the sixteen, twelve and five upacāras are The Vratārka quotes verses enumerating 38, 16, 10 or 5 upacāras. If a person is unable to offer even five upacāras then he should offer two, viz sandalwood paste and flowers and if he cannot do even that, then he may offer only devotion.