History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.149.2

v6.c81.149.2

The Kṛtyaratnākara⁹⁹ quotes a long passage from the Samayapradīpa on what food should be partaken in vratas viz. 'first come *yavas* (barley), on failure of them *vrīhi* (rice), on failure of this, other food except *māṣa* (black beans), *kodrava*, gram, *masūra* (a kind of pulse), *cīna* and *kapittha*'. There are somewhat conflicting passages in the several Purāṇas about the foods that are acceptable or should be rejected For example, the Agnipurāna¹⁰⁰ (in 175. 12) first states that ksāra, lavana, honey and flesh should be eschewed in vrata, then (in 175 13-14) includes among ksāra all cereals in pods except sesame and *mudga*, and among corn wheat and kodravas and several others are included in ksāra group (i e they are to be eschewed in vrata) and proceeds (175 14-15) 'rice, sastika (corn that ripens in sixty days from the date of sowing), mudga, kalāya (peas), sesame and yava, śyāmāka (millet), nīvāra (wild rice grains), wheat and others are beneficial (i e allowed) in vratas, while one should give up (in vrata) kūsmānda (pumpkin gourd), alābu (bottle gourd), vārtāka (egg plant), pālankī (a kind of vegetable) and pūtikā.