Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c10.s2.23

c10.s2.23

The Sampradāna is to be followed by the ritual of Kuṣaṇḍikā (consecration of the sacred fire), which should be performed by the bridegroom in the nuptial fire, specially named Yojaka (one who yokes or joins together). The main operations in the ceremony are the following: (i) Drawing of five lines of five colours (yellow, red, black, golden and white) on a specially constructed altar and identifying them mentally with the Vaiṣṇavīs, namely, Earth, Cow, Kālindī, Śrī and Sarasvatī; (ii) Removal of rubbish (Utkara-nirasana); (iii) Sprinkling the lines with water (Rekhābhyukṣaṇa); (iv) Preparation of the fire (Agni-saṃskāra); (v) Placing of the fire (Agni-sthāpana) on the black line and invoking it as the Yojaka fire with relevant Mantras; (vi) Seating a Vaiṣṇava Brahman or a Brahman made of Kuśa on a seat of Kuśa grass and worshipping him as Brahmā (Brahma-sthāpana); (vii) Muttering of the Mantra Om parameṣṭhī viṣṇuḥ etc. after placing the palms of the hand on the ground (Bhūmi-japa); (viii) Propitiating the fire for its favour (Agni sammukhī-karaṇa); (ix) Purification of straw etc. (Tṛṇādi-śodhana); (x) Drawing of the Svastika sign on the Kuśa grass spread threefold (Svastika-nivedana); (xi) Performance of Homa with twenty pieces of Khadira, or Palāśa or Udumbara wood (Viṃśati-kāṣṭhikā-homa); (xii) Purification of Ghee for Homa (Ājya-saṃskāra); (xiii) Purification of the laddle (Sruva-saṃskāra); (xiv) Pouring of water round the fire (Udakāñjali-seka); (xv) Muttering, with the left palm of the hand placed on the right, of the Mantra Om prajāpatiḥ etc. containing a prayer to Virūpākṣa, a devotee of the Bhagavat (Virūpākṣa-japa).