History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.313

v7.c89.313

Vasantarāja states¹³¹⁷ that there are five excellent ones in the matter of śakunas viz the Poḍakī bird, dog, crow, piṅgalā bird and the female jackal. Sarasvatī is the presiding deity of poḍakī, Yakṣa (Kubera) of dog, eagle of crow, Caṇḍī of piṅgalikā and the friend of Pārvatī of the female jackal. He further says that all animals and birds are presided over by deities, therefore a person who interprets śakunas should not kill them, as deities presiding over them might become angry. His statements about 'upaśruti' (oracular voices or words) are worth citing. 'At the time of pradoṣa or about the morning twilight when people are hardly speaking anything, a person that is ready to undertake any matter (business) should consider everywhere oracular voices. What a child says without being prompted to do so would not turn out to be untrue even at the end of a *Yuga*. No such easily understood and true śakuna exists for men other than upaśruti' Both Mānasollāsa (II. 13, verses 920-926 pp. 112-113) and Vasantarāja (VI. pp. 78-80 verses 5-12) describe a curious mode of divining the future called 'upaśruti'.¹³¹⁸ 'When all people are asleep and the public road is empty of people three married women accompanied by a maiden should worship Gaṇeśa (with gandha and flowers &c.); then, after making an obeisance to Caṇḍikā they should fill a measure of corn like *kudava* with *akṣata* grains on which sacred mantras have been recited seven times; they should then place the image of Gaṇeśa in that measure surrounded by the grass blades of a broom. They should take with them the *kudava* measure with Gaṇeśa image inside and repair to the house of a washerman In front of that house they should cast white *akṣata* grains after (silently) revolving in their mind their thoughts (the matter they are intent on). Then they should with concentrated mind listen When they hear any words coming from inside of the house talked by a man, a woman or a child or any one else uttered at pleasure (or without restraint of any kind), auspicious, or inauspicious, they should consider the sense of the words heard and the conclusion drawn as to the future project from the words would not turn out to be untrue. The same method may be followed by approaching the house of a cāṇḍāla.