History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.2050

v6.c81.2050

*Vaiśākha-kṛtya*—Vide HV II. 748-750, KR 145-179, VKK 240-259, KT 423-430, NS 90-97, SmK 108-117, GK 15-23. Some of the vratas in Vaiśākha, such as Akṣayyatṛtīyā have been separately mentioned. Other small matters are briefly dealt with here. In this month morning bath, particularly in holy rivers, is specially commended along with baths when the Sun is in Tulā (Balance) or Makara (Capricorn). Vide RM (ABORI vol. 36 p 331 ‘Tulā-makara’ &c), KR 149 (quoting ‘Tulāmakarameṣeṣu prātaḥ-snānam vidhīyate), KV 423-424, SmK 106, 108 The *prātahsnāna* may be begun on Caitra Full Moon or on the ekādaśī or Full Moon of Vaiśākha (NS 90); for māhātmya of Vaiśākha-snāna, vide Pad. IV. 85. 41-70 saying that early morning bath in Vai. is equal to Aśvamedha; on śu 7 the worship of the Ganges, as it was let off on this tithi from his right ear by Jahnu who drank it up in anger (KKN 387, Pad. IV. 85 41-42, NS 95, SmK 112); on Vai. śu. 7 Buddha was born and his image should be worshipped for three days from that tithi, especially when it has Puṣya nakṣatra (KKN 388, KR 160). On śu. 8 worship of Durgā called Aparājitā after bathing image with water containing camphor and Jaṭāmāṁsī and the performer himself should bathe with the juice of mangoes (NA 56, SmK 113); on Vai. pūrṇimā, white and dark sesame were produced by Brahmā, therefore one should bathe with water mixed with them, offer in fire sesame, donate sesame and *madhu* (honey) and vessels full of sesame (KKN 388, HV II. 167-171, KR 163-164, SmK 115-116, NS 97); vide V. Dh. 90. 10 for a similar provision. The Vaiśākha-pūjā of Buddha was started in Ceylon under Duṭṭha-gāmaṇī (about 100-77 B. C.); vide 'Buddhism in Ceylon' by Walpola Rāhula (Colombo, 1956) p. 80.