History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.211

v7.c89.211

The Jyotistattva quotes ¹²⁵⁸ a verse 'I shall declare what matters seen in dreams tend to bring knowledge (of impending consequences) to men who do not understand the true nature (significance) of objects seen in dreams that arise from their meritorious or sinful actions (in previous lives)' and remarks that from this verse it follows that dreams are purely indicative and do not *produce* consequences (by themselves) The higher thought in India held that dreams were only indicative or suggestive of future auspicious or inauspicious events, as affirmed by the Vedāntasūtra (III. 2 4) and by Śaṅkarācārya's commentary thereon. On the other hand Bhujabala provides ¹²⁵⁹ 'to sleep again (after a dream), not to declare it to another, bath in the Ganges, *japa* (of holy texts), śānti, *svastyayana* (asking brāhmaṇas to say 'it would be auspicious'), to resort in the morning to cows and an Aśvattha tree, honouring brāhmaṇas with food mixed with sesame, with gold and flowers according to one's means, merit-giving recital of the Mahābhārata—these tend to destroy (the effects of) bad dreams' Bhujabala further says that all white objects except cotton, ashes, bones, butter-milk are auspicious (in dreams) and all dark objects except cows, images of gods, elephants, horses and brāhmaṇas are inauspicious.