History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.741

v6.c81.741

Hemādri (on Vrata, vol. I. p 906) quotes Devīpurāṇa for honouring horses.⁴⁷⁵ The Durgāpūjā was meant for all. Kings and such men as kept horses were advised to honour horses in Navarātra from the 2nd tithi in conjunction with Svāti-nakṣatra up to 9th tithi. The Durgābhaktitaraṅgiṇī devotes several pages to this nīrājana of horses from Śālihotra, Bhoja, Varāhamihira and other authorities (pp. 56-63 and 67-69). Kings were advised to perform Lohābhisārika rite about horses from Āśvina-śukla first to Mahānavamī (H V. I. 910-916, N. S. 176, R. N. P. 414-416). For Lohābhihārika or Nīrājana rite, *vide* H. of Dh. Vol. III. p. 230 notes 309-311 and p. 910 note 1773. Although the Kṛtyakalpataru (on vrata) does not speak of Durgotsava on the lines stated above, the Naiyatakālika section of that work (pp. 408-410) quotes a long passage from the Bhaviṣyapurāṇa⁴⁷⁶ which states that Mahiṣa was killed by Caṇḍikā and therefore she should be worshipped on navamī, all varṇas should worship her, kings should fast on it and gifts should be made; the Devī is pleased by the offering of the devotee's own blood and flesh and of he-buffaloes, goats and rams. It specifies the periods for which gratification is felt by the Devī by the offering of various *balis* and avers that all *dasyus* and various mleccha tribes, the Angas, Vangas, Kalingas, Kinnaras, Barbaras and Śakas worship her.