History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c93.619

v7.c93.619

The Aveṣṭi is a sacrifice which is performed as part of the composite sacrifice called Rājasūya that could be performed only by Kṣatriyas. It is also an independent sacrifice that could be performed by any one of the three higher varṇas. This is no part of the Rājasūya and is different from it, though the passage about it occurs in the midst of the description of Rājasūya.²²⁰¹ This is relied upon by the Nirṇayasindhu in connection with the Navarātra from Āśvina 1st to 9th of the bright half. There were different views, viz. Devīpūjā was to be performed for 9 days or on 8th or 9th tithi (vide above p. 154). The Kālikāpurāṇa quotes ²²⁰² a verse about Devīpūjā on the 8th or 9th alone of Āśvina (*śukla*) and the N. S. interprets it as a separate worship on 8th or 9th alone distinct from the whole Navarātra.