History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.59

v7.c89.59

The Āpastamba-gṛhya (8. 23. 9) lumps together several unusual appearances and provides the same śānti in the case of all, 'If the post of a man's house puts forth shoots, or if honey is made in his house by bees or if the footprint of a pigeon is seen on the hearth or if disease arises in his family, or in the case of other miracles and prodigies, let him perform on the newmoon night, at dead of night, at a place where he does not hear the sound of water, the rites from the putting of wood on the fire to the Ājyabhāga oblations indicated in the next (Āpastambīyamantrapāṭha II. 22. 14–23), and then perform Jaya and following oblations.' Very similar provisions are found in Jaiminīya-gṛhya II. 7.¹¹⁶⁹ The Sāmavidhānabrāhmaṇa contains several prāyaścittas (really śāntis) on the happening of numerous incidents. A few examples are set out here; when bad dreams¹¹⁷⁰ are seen, the person should make repetition of Ṛg. V. 82. 4 twice (i. e. in all at least six times); in the case of any other prognosticatory occurrence not known from any work the person should repeat twice the verse Ṛg. IV. 31. 1. On seeing one's enemies with weapons raised to strike, the person should revolve in his mind the Devavrata verse, then (the enemies) would not kill him. If one's house were to be burnt¹¹⁷¹ (accidentally) one should offer oblations anointed with ghee with the mantra 'born with the highest Dharman' (Sāmaveda no 90) and with words 'svāhā to Agni' In II. 2. 2 The Sāmavidhāna Br. prescribes a śānti for one seized or posessed by an evil spirit. A portion of Sadvimśabrāhmaṇa (viz V 1-10) is styled Adbhutabrāhmaṇa and contains śāntis for several kinds of utpātas Some parts of it (such as V 2-3) correspond with Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-pariśista, 4 11-15 The Saḍvimśa-brāhmaṇa V. 7. 2 provides for earthquakes and cracks in palaces, which are similar to Yogayātrā 3. 13 The Atharvaveda 19. 9. 9 refers to showers of falling stars (nakṣatramulkābhihatam śam-astu naḥ) and Sadvimśa V 9. 2. refers to falling meteors and V 10. 2 to images laughing, weeping &c