History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.696

v6.c81.696

After the pūjā, homa is performed as indicated above; offerings are to be made in fire called 'Balada'⁴⁴⁶ with the word 'svāhā' at the end to the accompaniment of a mantra preceded by 'om'. The Durgārcana-paddhati notes (p. 681) that after the special rites on the Mahāṣṭamī described above (viz. pūjā, honouring maidens, homa &c.) are finished the rest of the tithi should be spent by the devotee in dance, songs⁴⁴⁷ and music (jāgara) It appears that in the Devī and Kālikā purāṇas it is provided that even on the 8th at midnight an animal such as a goat or he-buffalo should be sacrificed and that on the 9th tithi many balis were to be sacrificed. 'When the Sun is in the sign of Kanyā (Virgin or Virgo) and in the month of Iṣa (Āśvina) one should offer pūjā on the 9th tithi of the bright half; one should observe a fast (on that tithi) and at midnight should begin pūjā of Devī with great expenditure and parapher-nalia when the nakṣatra is Mūla or Purvāṣāḍhā; an animal should be killed and a he-buffalo and a goat should be sacrificed'.⁴⁴⁸