History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c92.146.3

v7.c92.146.3

The ¹⁷⁵⁹ Svacchandatantra (a work of great authority in Kashmir Śaivism) prescribes that various kinds of fish and meat and other food that can be licked and drunk should be poured in front of Śiva (image) and one should not stint for money. Quotations from Pārānanda-sūtra (notes 1698, 1703-4) make it perfectly clear that the words madya, māmsa, and maithuna are employed therein in the ordinary sense. Pārānandasūtra (on pp. 80-81, paragraphs 69-70 and pp 82-83 para. 76-80) describes such obscene details of the sādhaka's sexual intercourse that it is not possible to set them down here. The ordinary worship of Devī was elaborate enough, containing as it did 16 upacāras (vide p. 164 note 420 above). Where was the necessity of bringing in wine, meat and maithuna as an absolutely necessary part of the worship of Devī? The Kulārnava and other tantras praise the Vedas, employ vedic mantras and quote¹⁷⁶⁰ Upanisad and Gītā passages For example, Mahānirvāna V. 197 ff employs Vedic mantras (as noted on p. 1058) for sanctifying the five makāras, the three mantras 'Āpo hi sthā' Ṛg. X 9. 1-3 in Nāmakarana (*ibid.* IX. 150-152), 'Tac-cakṣur' Ṛg. VII. 66. 16 in Niṣkramaṇa (*ibid.* IX. 163), 'Viṣṇuryoniṁ' Ṛg. X. 184. 1 in Garbhādhāna (*ibid* IX. 96), 'Ayam te yonir' Ṛg. III. 29 10 in the worship of Agni (*ibid.* IX. 21) and the verse 'Kālī Karālī' (Muṇḍakopaniṣad I. 2. 4)