History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.820

v6.c81.820

The Balipratipadā appears to be called Vīrapratipadā ⁵²² in the Vāmana-purāṇa. It is also called Dyūtāpratipad (Kṛtyatattva p. 452) The purāṇas ⁵²³ say that on that day Śiva was defeated in dice-play by Pārvatī, that Śaṅkara became sad, while Gaurī remained happy. Therefore, on this day in the morning men should resort to gambling. Whoever succeeded on this day in gambling would find that the whole year thereafter was beneficial to him but if he suffered defeat in gambling that day he would lose his wealth that year. In Ellora cave No. 21 Śaṅkara and Pārvatī are shown as playing with dice; vide plate 38 in 'Ellora' by Balasaheb Pant-Pratinidhi of Aundh. In many parts of India people engage on this day in gambling and fortunes are often lost or made on this day. Even in a comparatively small country like Nepal gambling stakes soared up to three million rupees in 1955 on the Balipratipad day.