History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1853

v6.c81.1853

*Māghasnāna*—bath in Māgha in the Ganges or in any other fine stream in the early morning is highly eulogised from early times The best time is dawn when the nakṣatras are still visible, next best is the time when stars are visible but the Sun is not actually risen and the inferior time is after the Sun rises The beginning for the month's bathing should be made on the 11th of P śu or on P. pūrnīmā (according to the pūrnimānta reckoning) and the vrata (for one month) is to be finished on the 12th of M. śu or pūrnīmā; some bring it in line with the Saura reckoning by providing that bath when the Sun is in Makara (Capricorn) in Māgha in the morning leads sinners to heaven (VKK 491 quoting Pad ), all men and women are entitled to engage in it. The most meritorious Māghasnāna is at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā. Vide for details, Pad VI (in which about 2800 verses are devoted from chap 219 to 250 to the māhātmya of Māghasnāna), HV II 789-794, VKK 490-91, RM 1368 (ABORI vol 36 p. 332 ), NS 213-216, SmK 439-441 and H of Dh vol IV 617; Pad VI. 237 49-59 and KT 455-57 describe the procedure of the gifts and niyamas V Dh 90 last verse eulogises morning bath in M and Phā Vide I. A. vol XI p. 88 on 'Māghamela'.