History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.682

v6.c81.682

On the day on which there is Mahāṣṭamīpūjā the performer observes a fast But a householder⁴³⁶ who has a son should not observe a fast on the Mahāṣṭamī. He should follow one of the alternatives specified above in note 252 (naktam haviṣyānnam &c). Whatever procedure about food he may follow, he, keeping himself pure and observing the rules of conduct for vrata, should worship Devī; he should offer worship on the Mahāṣṭamī and on the 9th with *balis*; he should take leave (of Devī) on the 10th with Śrāvaṇa-nakṣatra after performing the Śābara festival. When the last quarter of Śravaṇa (nakṣatra) is running then he should give a send-off to Devī on the 10th tithi. The Tithitattva⁴³⁷ positively asserts that a fast is to be observed on the same day on which Mahāṣṭamī-pūjā is performed