History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.931

v6.c81.931

The Tithitattva (p. 127) adds some details which are interesting The liṅga is to be bathed with milk in the first watch of the night, with curds in the 2nd, with ghee in the 3rd and with honey in the 4th. The mantras in the four watches are respectively 'hrīm, Īśānāya namaḥ,' 'hrīm Aghorāya namaḥ,' 'hrīm Vāmadevāya namaḥ' and 'hrīm Sadyojātāya namaḥ.' The mantra at the time of offering arghya is also different in each of the four watches. It is further provided that there should be songs and dances in the first watch of the night. The *Varṣakriyākaumudī* (p. 513) provides that in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th watches also the person undergoing vrata has to perform worship, arghya, japa and listening to stories (about Śiva), to offer hymns of praise and make prostrations and at day-break he should pray for forgiveness with arghya water. If Māgha-kṛṣṇa 14th falls on a Sunday or Tuesday, that is most commendable for this vrata.⁵⁹⁶