History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.673

v6.c81.673

The Kālikāpurāṇa in a long passage⁴³⁰ provides gradually rising periods of times for which Durgā becomes gratified by the offering of the blood of various animals. A few might be cited here: Durgā secures satisfaction for one month by the (offering of the) blood of fishes and tortoises, and for two months by (the blood of) crocodiles; by the blood of the black antelope and of the boar Devī is pleased for twelve years and by the blood of buffalo and rhinoceros for a hundred years; by the blood of the lion, the śarabha and from the performer's body Devī is gratified for a thousand years and by a human being as a *bali* for a thousand years." There was a revulsion of feeling against blood sacrifices in some hearts and so even the Kālikā provides⁴³¹ that the offerings of kūṣmāṇḍa (pumpkin-gourd) and sugarcane stalks, intoxicants and *āsavas* (spirits distilled from molasses, flowers or herbs) are like (animal) victims and gratification (to the Devī) is the same as by the offering of a goat. But even in these days castes deemed higher, even including brāhmaṇas, offer goats and rarely buffaloes to Durgā, if that is the custom of the caste or family. I understand that many families of learned brāhmaṇas such as the Bhaṭṭācāryas of Bhatpara in West Bengal sacrifice fruits and vegetables in lieu of animals The Ahalyākāma-dhenu⁴³² says that some Vaisṇavas regard the night when victims are killed as horrible and do not eat food or even drink water on that night and that among brāhmaṇa castes the offering (bali) should be in the form of kūṣmāṇḍa and the like or flour images of animals or simple ghee should be offered As to other castes also it has been declared that Kūṣmāṇḍa, bilva fruit, sugarcane stalks may be cut into pieces.