History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1896

v6.c81.1896

*Rathayātrā* (car procession of a deity)—*HV* II 420-424 (quoting Devīpurāna) describes the Rathayātrā of Durgā accompanied by crowds of men and women; *KR* (259-264) describes the same from a different source, Bhav. (I 18. 3-17) deals with the Rathayātrā of Brahmā which is quoted by *KR* 438-439 and *Pūjāprakāśa* 293-307; the twelve rathayātrās of Puruṣottama and fourteen of Bhuvanesvara are respectively described in *GK* pp 183-190 and 190-194; *HV* II. 424-440 (quoting Bhav.) describe at length the *rathayātrotsava* of the Sun and state (p 425) that the latter is equal to Indradhvajotsava and that both the festivals are carried on every year in several countries for averting evil (*śāntihetoḥ*), for the happiness and health of the people and that it should be begun on Mārg. śu. Vide Var. 177 55-56 for Rathayātrā of Sāmbapuradeva in Mathurā In Bhav. U. 134. 40-71 there is a description as to how a car is to be made, how procession is to be arranged and how images are to be placed on the car.