History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1670

v6.c81.1670

*Pauṣṭika*—Bṛ S. 2 enumerates among the qualifications of the sāṁvatsara (astrologer) that he should be well-versed in the śāntika and pauṣṭika rites. The difference between the two is: Pauṣṭika rites are homa and the like performed for longe-vity, while Śāntika rites are homa and the like performed for averting threatened evil influence of planets and danger foreboded by unusual occurrences like comets, meteor showers &c; NA 48. KKN 254 states that Śānti means the removal of worldly calamities by means of acts in accordance with Dharma (or Dharmaśāstra).