History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1906

v6.c81.1906

*Rasakalyāṇī*—begin on M śu. 3; tithi, Durgā deity; bathe image of Durgā with honey and sandalwood paste and worship the right side of the image first and then left side; salute her limbs from feet to her crown, associating each with a different name, worship Devī with a different name (out of 12, such as Kumudā, Mādhavī, Gaurī) respectively in 12 months from M.; from M. to K. each month the performer should abstain from one out of 12 things in order viz. salt, jaggery, tavarāja (milk ?), honey, pānaka (spicy beverage), jīraka, milk, curds, ghee, marjikā (*Rasālā* or Śikharinī), dhānyaka (coriander), sugar; at end of each month donate a vessel full of the thing left off in that month and one of the edibles specified; at end of year donate a golden image of Gaurī (as big as the thumb) studded with *ratnas*; reward is freedom from sins and sorrow and disease; KKV 66-69, HV II. 461-465 (from Pad V. 22. 105-135), KR 499-503 (same verses from Mat. 63. 1-29). *Rasālā* was prepared from curds and was somewhat like 'śrīkhaṇḍa' of modern Mahārāṣṭra (from the quotations in KR 501).