History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1975

v6.c81.1975

*Vardhāpanavidhi*—(procedure of birthday ceremony and festival). In the case of a child this was done every month on the tithi of birth and in the case of a king it was done every year; sixteen goddesses (such as Kumudā, Mādhavi, Gaurī, Rudrāṇī, Pārvatī) should be drawn with indigo or saffron with the Sun in the middle of a circle, Vedic verses should be loudly recited and a festival held with loud music and the goddesses should be worshipped after bathing the child and 16 vessels of wicker-work filled with rich materials, edibles, flowers, fruits &c should be donated in honour of each of the sixteen goddesses and gifts should be made to brāhmaṇas and women whose husbands are alive with the prayer 'May the goddesses Kumudā and others confer on my child health, happiness and increase his life'. The parents may then have dinner along with their relatives; in the case of a king an offering (*havis*) was made to Indra and the *Lokapālas* and Vedic verses such as Ṛg. VI. 47. 11, X. 161. 4 were recited; HV II. 889-892 (from Atharvaṇa-gopathabrāhmaṇa and Skanda).