History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.225

v7.c89.225

One of the śāntis that is frequently performed even in these days is 'Udakaśānti'. It is performed for averting the consequences of many happenings and for securing certain benefits such as good health, the removal of the diseases due to the three constituent elements of the human body, viz. bile, phlegm and *vāta* (wind), that may have already arisen or are likely to arise, or for mitigating all the trouble that is caused by planets occupying unfavourable positions from the *lagna* in a person's horoscope or from the *rāśi* of his birth, for removing the impurity on birth or death in one's house or family, for securing a happy life Therefore, the sankalpa may assume various forms that are noted below ¹²⁶⁶ In modern times this is a very elaborate rite in which a very large number of Vedic verses are repeated and which takes up about three hours for its performance. Therefore, even a brief resume of the modern procedure is not attempted here But one of the oldest available descriptions of this rite contained in the Baudhāyana-gṛhya-śeṣasūtra (I. 14) is set out here in order to convey an idea of this śānti. As the Baudhāyana-sūtras are closely connected with the Taittirīya-saṁhitā and Brāhmaṇa the references to mantras and texts are cited as far as possible from that Saṁhitā and Brāhmaṇa. Many of the mantras occur also in the Ṛgveda and other saṁhitās Here are the texts; waters indeed are faith, (when a priest takes water) he begins (the rite with) faith itself, waters are indeed the sacrifice, he begins sacrifice itself; water is indeed thunder-bolt, he strikes the thunderbolt against enemies; waters are destroyers of malignant spirits (and it is taken) for destroying evil spirits, waters are the favourite abode (or seat) of the gods, waters are indeed nectar, therefore people sprinkle with water him who faints; waters are indeed all gods; he begins with gods Waters indeed are well disposed, he (priest) removes with the kindly (waters) the pain of this person (the sacrificer); this is (what) the Brāhmaṇa (text) says