History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.2081

v6.c81.2081

*Śāntivrata*—(1) on 3rd tithi prepare an altar and make a maṇḍala thereon with white rice grains and invoke Narasimha and establish an image showing all the features of that *avatāra* and decked with numerous flowers of various kinds and bilva fruit and sesame &c., worship image with various upacāras, dance, songs and music; place in front of image a jar full of water and eight other jars in eight directions, elaborate procedure of homa with sesame, ghee &c. and also *tarpaṇa* and *japa*. This vrata removes all distress, diseases and all sins; HV I. 465-471 (from Gar); (2) begin on 5th of K. śu., give up sour things for a year and worship at night image of Hari sleeping on Śeṣa and with one foot on lap of Lakṣmī; worship limbs from feet to head associating each limb with one of the eight nāgas (Ananta &c mentioned on p. 124 above) and bathe nāgas (images) with milk, homa with sesame and milk, at end donate golden snake, cow, and gold, this vrata makes for freedom from danger of snake bite; KV 96-97 and HV I. 556-557 (both quote from Var. 60 1-8).