History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.789

v6.c81.789

On the 14th of the dark half of Āśvina⁵⁰¹ (or of Kārtika in the pūrṇimānta reckoning) persons afraid of Hell should take an oil bath at the time of daybreak, should whirl over their heads the twigs of Apāmārga tree together with clods of ploughed land and the thorns (of the twigs) The mantra to be repeated is noted below ⁵⁰² Then the purāṇa provides for tarpaṇa (satiation with *añjalis* of water &c mixed with sesame) to Yama and mentions seven names of Yama.⁵⁰³ Then the purāṇa provides that a lamp should be lit for Naraka (i. e. for the avoidance of Naraka) and that in the evening illumination with charming lamps should be provided in the temples of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and others, in *maṭhas* (monasteries), in rooms for implements, on *caityas* (mounds on which sacred trees grow), in assembly halls, on rivers, and ramparts, in parks, wells, principal roads and in the women's apartments, in shrines of siddhas, Arhats (Jaina saints), Buddha, Cāmuṇḍā, Bhairava, in isolated stables for horses and elephants (verses 15--17) Other texts provide that on this day in the midst of the bath one should whirl over one's body twigs and leaves of apāmārga or of gourd or of prapunnāta (called Tāklā in Marathi) for the removal of hell and that one should light a lamp with four wicks in memory of Narakāsura. It was believed⁵⁰⁴ that Lakṣmī came to dwell in oil and the Ganges came to all waters on the 14th in Dīpāvalī and he who would take an oil bath on this morning would not see the world of Yama. In modern times, people in the Deccan after their bath on 14th crush under their foot a bitter fruit called Kārīt, which probably represents Narakāsura. The oil bath was to be taken about the time of aruṇodaya, but if for some reason it could not be done then it may be taken even after sunrise.⁵⁰⁵ The Dharmasindhu says that even *yatis* (ascetics) should undergo the oil bath on this day. It appears probable that originally the 14th was called Narakacaturdaśī because Yama was to be propitiated for fear of Hell. Later on the legend about the killing by Kṛṣṇa of Narakāsura, king of Prāgjyotiṣa city (Kāmarūpa), said to have been born of the Earth when it came in contact with the Varāha incarnation of Viṣṇu, was pressed into service. People now-adays remember only Narakāsura on this day and hardly any one performs Yamatarpana.⁵⁰⁶ The depredations of Narakāsura are narrated in the Viṣṇupurāṇa V. 29 and in the Bhāgavata X. (uttarārdha) chap. 59. He deprived Aditi, the mother of gods, of her ear ornaments, Varuṇa of his umbrella, Mandara of a peak called Maṇiparvata and kidnapped 16100 girls of gods, siddhas and kings and imprisoned them in his palace.⁵⁰⁷ Kṛṣṇa killed him and if Purāṇa descriptions are to be treated as historical Kṛṣṇa's actions were prompted by great pity and he raised the status of these unfortunate women by marrying them all.