History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s3.t3.1

v1.c24.s3.t3.1

Sowing being an important process in cultivation, it was given serious attention and care. Befitting its importance solemn religious rites were performed on the occasion. Panini (IV.3.45) shows that farmers selected auspicious days for sowing seeds; the full-moon day of the month of Agrāhāyana was one such auspicious day. The Arthaśāstra (II.24.27) advises the Superintendent of Agriculture (sītādhyaksa) at the first sowing to sow the first handful after immersing it in water containing gold and recite the mantra meaning “Salutation to Kāśyapa, the Lord of Creation, and to the god (of rain) always. May the divine Sītā prosper in my seeds and my grains”. The Vr̥kṣāyurveda (verse 59) of Surapāla requires the master to bathe and become pure, put on clean clothes, worship the gods, salute the preceptor, make the gift of money or land to a meritorious person, make obeisance to the presiding deity of the land (vāstupuruṣa) and then himself first sow a few seeds, after which the attendants are to sow all over the field.