History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.801

v6.c81.801

The medieval texts prescribe on 14th of Āśvina⁵¹⁰ dark half the performance of the following acts, viz oil bath, tarpaṇa of Yama, lighting lamp for Naraka, illuminations at night, holding firebrands, worship of Śiva, worship of Mahārātri, taking food at night only Out of these only three (viz oil bath, lighting a lamp for Naraka and night illumination) are now-adays generally performed and the rest are omitted. After the bath people put on new clothes and ornaments and take a repast of sweets and the like and in the noon there is a sumptous feast There is a good deal of discussion in the Nirṇayasindhu (p. 197), P. C (p. 241), Dharmasindhu (p 104) about the time when oil bath is to be taken, if the 14th is mixed up with the 13th and amāvāsyā That is passed over here Narakacaturdaśī is also called Bhūtacaturdaśī in Kṛtyatattva (p. 450).