History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.156

v7.c89.156

The general rule about the time for śāntis is that no definite time can be fixed for them, since śānti rites are performed with the object of removing the evil consequences of men's lapses suggested by such indications (or omens) as dreams, the evil aspects of planets and the like i. e. they are to be performed as and when omens or portents occur or are observed and one should not wait for such times as the northward passage of the Sun, bright fortnight and that one may perform śāntis even in the southward passage of the Sun or even in an intercalary month.¹²²⁴ If there is no hurry, then a śānti was to be performed on an auspicious week-day, an auspicious tithi and on certain nakṣatras, viz. the three Uttarās, Rohiṇī, Śravaṇa, Dhaniṣṭhā, Śatatārakā, Punarvasu, Svāti, Maghā, Aśvinī, Hasta, Puṣya, Anurādhā and Revatī.¹²²⁵ As regards the Lakṣahoma the Matsya (93. 86) prescribes that it should be performed after securing favourable planets and *Tārās* (stars). Vide also p. 290 above about Koṭihoma prescribed by the Atharva-pariśiṣṭa (XXXI pp. 187-191). The Matsya prescribes that a Koṭihoma should be begun in Caitra or Kārtika (239. 20-21); the invisibility of Jupiter and Venus and similar matters need not be considered when a śānti has to be performed immediately on the occurrence of an omen (or portent) or when the śānti is meant for alleviating the disease from which a person may be suffering.