History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.643

v6.c81.643

It has been stated above (pp 110-111, n 280) that the principal gods are deemed to go to sleep for four months on different tithis from the pratipad (1st) of Āṣāḍha-śukla to the 15th. Therein Durgā is said to go to sleep on the 8th of the bright half of Āṣāḍha. Therefore, in Āśvina she would be asleep. Hence the texts provide for the rousing (*bodhana*) of Devī from sleep As usual there are conflicting views The Tithitattva⁴⁰⁷ notices the views of some that if the Devī is to be worshipped as having 18 arms she was to be roused on the 9th of the dark half preceding Āśvina bright half, but that if she was to be worshipped as possessing ten arms then the *bodhana* was to be on the 6th (of the bright half of Āśvina) Raghunandana does not accept this and holds that the *bodhana* of Devī with ten arms was to be either on the 9th (of the preceding dark half) or on the 6th (of the bright half of Āśvina). If the performer begins on the 9th of the dark half the *saṅkalpa* will be as noted below.⁴⁰⁸ He may, however, begin on the first tithi of Āśvina bright half and then the bodhana will be on the 6th of the bright half. If he begins on the pratipad the saṅkalpa will be as noted below.⁴⁰⁹ Then he should recite Ṛg. VII. 16. 11 'God⁴¹⁰ Draviṇodas specially desires your ladle filled (with offering); may you pour out (Soma) or fill (the vessel with Soma); the god then immediately comes down'. Then he should establish a *ghaṭa*[^asterisk] (a jar with a peculiar shape, the central portion bulging out, the neck narrow and the brim being broad and open), fill it with water, place twigs of mango and other sacred trees thereon and worship Durgā with the 16 or 5 upacāras. Then he should offer materials such as sandal-wood paste, myrobalan for purifying the hair and also a comb.⁴¹¹ On the 2nd tithi he should offer a silken ribbon for keeping the hair in position, on the third alaktaka (red lac) dye for reddening the feet, vermilion for putting it on the head, a mirror for observing the face; on the 4th tithi he should offer *madhuparka* (to the goddess), a silver piece having the shape of a *tilaka* (for the forehead) and collyrium as decoration for the eyes; on the 5th tithi he should offer sandalwood paste, unguents and ornaments according to his means.