Sthālī

Sthālī, “a cooking vessel”

Grammar: feminine noun; also piṭharī.

Meaning: a cooking vessel; the Hindi says बटलोई.

In the scriptures: In the Āpāka-dāna that Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches, the giver honours the Bhārgava, calls him the form of Viśvakarmā, and asks him to make fine earthen vessels: ghaṭas, sthālīs, kasoras, kalaśas and others (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 167).

In the account of Draupadī‘s former birth, Vasishṭha tells a brāhmaṇī the vidhi of Sthālī-dāna, which fulfils all wishes. One makes a vessel of copper of 500, 250 or 125 palas, or without the means a fine earthen pot, deep and strong. It is filled with a preparation of mung and rice, smeared with candana and set in the middle of a maṇḍala, with every kind of śāka, a water vessel and a ghee vessel beside it. One does its pūjā with flowers, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya and cloth.

The prayer means: “With blazing fire close by, with rice and with water, still food cannot be cooked without the sthālī. Sthālī, you are siddhi to those who wish siddhi and pushṭi to those who wish pushṭi. I bow to you. Make my word true. Until my kin, my friends, my relations, my servants and others have eaten, may the food in you not grow less. Grant such a vara.” Reciting this, one gives the vessel to an excellent dvija. Following this teaching the brāhmaṇī daily gave sthālī vessels with dakshiṇā to brāhmaṇas (Uttara Parva, Chapter 170).

Related terms: Sthālī-dāna · Draupadī

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 167, 170