History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.2048

v6.c81.2048

*Vaitaranīvrata*—Mārg. kṛ 11th tithi is called Vaitaraṇī; one should undertake *niyamas* (restrictions) for this vrata on that tithi, at night he should worship a dark cow from its front foot to its tail; apply sandalwood paste to its body, wash its feet and horns with water scented with sandalwood paste and worship its limbs with Paurāṇika mantras; since one crosses the Vaitaraṇī river of the nether world by means of a cow, so this ekādaśī on which cow is honoured is so called; this vrata is for one year in three periods of four months, in which naivedya of boiled rice, of cooked barley and of pāyasa is offered respectively in 4 months from Mārg, in four months from Cai and in 4 months from Śr., one third of each naivedya is to be given to the cow, to the priest and to the performer, at end of one year gift of bedstead and a golden cow to the priest and one droṇa of iron; HV I. 1110-1112 (from Bhav. U.), Vratārka 230a-231b (notes that it is well-known in Gurjara-deśa). Pad. (VI. 68. 28 ff) describes this but says that Mārg. kṛ. 12th is Vaitaraṇī.