History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.236

v6.c82.236

From the passage of the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (in note 754) it would be seen how auspicious times were prescribed for rites to be performed by an individual The Brāhmaṇas and Kalpasūtras prescribed the auspicious nakṣatras and seasons for solemn Vedic sacrifices. The *gṛhya* and *dharma* sūtras prescribed for domestic rites auspicious times, which were either the same or similar to those prescribed in the Brāhmaṇas, Bṛ Up. and the Kalpasūtras. A few examples may be cited here The Āśvalāyana (I 13 1), Āpastamba (VI 14. 9), Baudhāyana (I. 10. 1) and Pāraskara (I 14) and other gṛhyasūtras provide that the rite of *Pumsavana* (that would produce male issue) was to be performed in the third month after conception on Tiṣya (Puṣya) nakṣatra or on a day on which the moon would be in a male nakṣatra.774a The Bhāradvājagṛhya expressly mentions Tiṣya, Hasta, Anurādhā, Uttarā Bhādrapadā as the proper nakṣatras for puṁsavana. As regards *caula* (tonsure) Āpastamba-gṛhya (VI. 16. 3) prescribes that it should be performed in the third year after birth on Punarvasu nakṣatra. The name of the nakṣatra may be noted, which literally means 'fresh wealth or new growth.' The Kauśika-sūtra mentions 'pāpanakṣatra' (in 46. 25) and puṁnakṣatra (lucky nakṣatra) in 35. 2. There are varying provisions about marriage. The Āp. gṛ. says that all seasons are proper for marriage, excepting the two months of Śiśira (*viz.* Māgha and Phālguna) and excepting the last month (Āṣāḍha) of summer, and all nakṣatras declared to be auspicious.⁷⁷⁵ The sūtra also quotes an ancient gāthā stating that persons for choosing a girl should be sent out on Invakās (i.e. Mṛgaśīrṣa) and then they are greeted with success. As regards marriage the Gobhila-gṛhya provides a simple rule that it should be performed on an auspicious (*puṇya*) nakṣatra, while the Pāraskara⁷⁷⁶ is more elaborate *viz.* one should take a maiden's hand in marriage in the northward passage of the sun, in the fortnight of the increasing moon, on an auspicious day and on Uttarā Phalgunī, Hasta, Citrā, Uttarāṣāḍhā, Śravaṇa, Dhaniṣṭhā, Uttarā-bhādrapadā, Revatī, Aśvinī, Svātī, Mṛgaśiras and Rohiṇī nakṣatras. The Baudhāyana-gṛhya⁷⁷⁷ declares: all months are proper for marriage; some (sages) say that the months of Āṣāḍha, Māgha and Phālguna are to be avoided; the nakṣatras for marriage are Rohiṇī, Mṛgaśīrṣa, Uttarā Phalgunī and Svātī; while for other auspicious rites the nakṣatras are Punarvasu, Tisya, Hasta, Śroṇā (Śravaṇa) and Revatī The Āśvalāyana-gṛhya generalises the auspicious times for several important *saṁskāras* as follows:⁷⁷⁸ 'the rites for *caula*, *upanayana*, *godāna* and marriage are to be performed in the northward passage of the sun, in the fortnight of the waxing moon and on an auspicious nakṣatra; some (sages) hold that marriage may be performed at all times'. Āśv further provides that the maiden after marriage was to observe silence and to begin speaking after seeing the Polestar, Arundhatī and the constellation of the Seven Sages This generalisation is carried further by the Pūrvamīmāṁsā-sūtra which provides⁷⁷⁹ 'all rites in honour of the gods are to be performed in the northward passage of the sun, on a day in the bright half of the month and on an auspicious day'.