History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.2158

v6.c81.2158

*Saptamisnapana*—Mat (68 1-42) describes this at length; HV (I. 763-768) quotes from Bhav. U. almost the same verses as those in Mat It is said to be an antidote against disease, ill-luck or distress or the death of infants It should be performed in the 7th month after a child is born to a woman who lost an infant child or on a 7th tithi in śu, but tithi of the birth should be avoided; offer to the Sun and Rudra and the Mātṛs specially oblations of rice with milk, repeat hymn to the Sun (Rg. I. 50) and offer homa to Rudra with Ṛg I. 43; the fuel sticks are to be of arka and palāśa and 108 āhutis of *yava*, dark sesame, and ghee; four jars in four corner directions and a fifth in their midst; and various things (five *ratnas*, *sarvauṣadhīs*, clay from several places named) were to be cast in all jars; seven married women should sprinkle water over the woman whose child died and invoke the Sun, Moon and the gods to save the child that is born; golden image of Yama to be donated to ācārya (priest), worship of the Sun and the kapilā cow; performer to eat remnants of food offered to gods.