History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.250

v7.c89.250

In modern times the entrance into a newly built house is preceded on the same day or on a previous day by a śānti called Vāstuśānti¹²⁸⁰ or Vāstu-śamana (in Matsya 268 3) It has been described at some length in H of Dh vol. II. pp 834-836. The description1280a there is based on Matsya, chapters 256 and 268. Vāstuśamana is also described in the Āśvalāyana grhya II. 9 6-9, Pār gr. III. 4 5-18, Baud gr III 5 (which are certainly older than Matsya by several centuries), in Baudhāyana-gṛhyaśeṣa-sūtra I 18, the Sāmavidhāna-brāhmaṇa III. 3. 5 and several medieval works. The Baud Gr S S calls it Gṛhaśānti and recommends that it be performed every month, every season or every year in the bright fortnight on an auspicious nakṣatra by one who desires prosperity in his house. It is therefore passed over here. The Āśv. gr is very brief. It says¹²⁸¹ Then he makes the house śānta (as follows). He deposits gold in water that has rice and barley thrown into it, he sprinkles the house three times going round it with his right side turned towards it with the śāntātīya hymn (Rg. VII. 35) and he does so again three times pouring out an unbroken stream of water with the three verses 'O waters! you are wholesome' (Rg. X. 9. 1-3). In the middle of the house he cooks boiled rice, offers from it four oblations with each of the four verses 'Vāstospate pratījānīhyasmān' (Rg. VII. 54. 1-3 and VII. 55. 1), should then prepare food, should feed the brāhmaṇas with it and make them say 'lucky is the house, lucky is the house.' Some details from Baud. Gr. (III. 5) may be mentioned here. It provides that oblations are offered from cooked food with the invitatory prayer (Puronuvākyā) 'Vāstospate pratījānīhi' ('O Lord of houses! accept us as your devotees,' (Rg. VII. 54. 1, Tai. S. III. 4. 10. 1) and the offering prayer (Yājyā) with 'Vāstospate śagmayā' (O Lord of houses, may we be endowed with fellowship with thee &c.' Rg VII. 54. 3, Tai. S. III. 4 10. 1) Then he offers *āhutis* of clarified butter with the mantras viz. 'Vāstospate dhruvā sthūṇā' (Rg. VIII. 17, 14), 'gṛhyam bhayam yac-ced',¹²⁸² 'aksispande-angacale,' 'duh-svapne pāpasvapne', 'Vāstospate pratarano' (O Vāstospati! mayst thou be our saviour', Rg. VII. 54. 2), 'amīvahā Vāstospate' (O Vāstospati! Mayst thou be our friend destroying diseases' Rg. VII 55. 1). Then he places the remainder of the food from which offerings were made on bunches of darbhas in front of the Fire with the words 'salutation to Rudra Vāstospati! I offer (oblations to him) who protects when we approach, or run, walk out, depart, turn round or return.' Having brought together in a plate the water for cleansing the cooking vessel, the remainder of the clarified butter and the water (used in the rite) he sprinkles water therefrom on all sides with a twig of udumbara or palāśa or śamī tree or with a handful of darbhas, he goes round the house thrice with his right side towards it with the verse 'tvam viprah' (Rg. IX. 18. 2). He prepares food, honours the brāhmaṇas (with food and fees), makes them recite blessings in the words 'lucky is the house, lucky is the house'.