History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.2123

v6.c81.2123

*Śrīpañcamī*—(1) on 5th of Mārg śu. one should make a golden, silver, copper, wooden or clay image of Lakṣmī or draw her figure on a piece of cloth and worship it with flowers and offer worship to the limbs from feet to head, chaste married women should be honoured with saffron and flowers and dinner and salutations; donate a prastha of rice grains with a vessel full of ghee with the words 'may Lakṣmī be pleased with me', this should be carried on for a year taking a different name of Lakṣmī in each month, at end worship Lakṣmī image in a maṇḍapa and donate it and a cow and pray to Śrī to give him success, result-prosperity for 21 generations, HV I. 537-543 (from Bhav. U. chap 37 1-58 with some variations). (2) Another vrata for success to be begun on śu. 5th with Śravaṇa-nakṣatra or with Uttarāphalgunī and Monday, on 4th ekabhakta, next day worship of bilva tree, under which eight kalaśas to be arranged in eight directions, holy water, ratnas, *dūrvā*, white lotuses &c. should be cast in those kalaśas; Lakṣmī to be worshipped and prayed to; invoke Nārāyaṇa in the middle kalaśa and worship Nārāyaṇa image for one year or as long as success is not effected, HV I. 546-552 (from Gar.); (3) on M. śu. 5, worship Lakṣmī in jar full of water or on Śālagrāma stone since she came to this world at Viṣṇu's command on that day, Bhujabala-nibandha (p. 363 Ms) says that worship was with kunda flowers; KT 457, 458; PC 98 says Lakṣmī was to be worshipped on M. śu. 5, while SmK 479 provides that Kāma and Rati (Cupid's wife) were to be worshipped and a great festival (called Vasantotsava was to be held, (4) on Cai. śu. 5 Lakṣmī was to be worshipped; the performer throughout his life is endowed with prosperity; NM p. 62 verses 766-768, SmK 92.