History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.68

v7.c89.68

The subjects treated of in the Madanaratna (about 1425 to 1450 A. D) on Śāntika-pauṣṭika would indicate how extensive was the cult of śāntis recommended in medieval times. The Anukramaṇikā at the beginning of the Ms. mentions the following: Vināyakasnāna; śāntis to placate the nine planets from the Sun to Ketu, Śanaiścaravrata, śāntis to placate Saturn extracted from Skanda (Nāgarakhaṇḍa and Prabhāsakhaṇḍa); worship of Jupiter and Venus; Śāntis based on the Yāmalas1172a on the conjunction of five or more planets, Grahasnānas from Viṣṇudharmottara, śāntis of the tithi and weekday when fever and other diseases seize a man, Nakṣatraśānti, śāntis for the nine nakṣatras called Janma and the rest (vide note 772 for these nine nakṣatras); śāntis for birth on Amāvāsyā, or on Mūla, Āśleṣā or Jyeṣṭhā nakṣatra, śānti for birth on the same nakṣatra as that of the father or (elder) brother, śāntis for birth on Gaṇḍa, Vaidhṛti, Vyatīpātayoga, Saṅkrānti, Viṣanāḍī, ecplipses; śānti called Gomukhaprasava; śāntis declared for the protection of the foetus from the first and following months from conception; *bali* offerings; medicine for removing pains of the foetus; measures for easy delivery, for protection of the child after birth, bali on first day with mantras &c, nīrājana &c, description of sprinkling the infant with holy water, satiating gods and pitṛs with water, *homas*, *yantras* (mystical diagrams);