64 - Mode of consecration of tanks and ponds 

The Lord said: 

1. Ishall describe the (inode of) consecration of wells, tanks and ponds. Listen! Lord Hari (Vishnu) as Soma and excellent Varuņa remains in the form of water. 

2. The universe is permeated by fire and water. Vishņu in the form of water is its cause. The image of Lord Varuņa (the presiding dcity of waters)should be made of gold, silver or gems. 

3. (The imageshould have) two hands, the right conferring refuge and the leftshould hold the snake-noose and as seated on the hamsa along with the rivers and serpents. 

4. Thereshould be an altar at the centre of sacrificialshed having a fire-pit. Thereshould be an arch. A pitcher made of stone for Lord Varuņashould be placed. 

5. Pitchers (should be placed) at the entrance to the fire receptacle which may be of a semi-circularshape or a svastika of auspicious nature. Having done the agnyādhāna (rite) in the pit for water the final oblationshould be done. 

6. (The image of) Varuņashould be touched in the bathing seat with (the mantra) ye te sate¹. Itshould then be anointed with ghee by the priest with (the recitation of) the principal mantra. 

1. Kåt. Sr. Su. 25.1.11a.

7. Having washed the eight pitchers with pure water with (the recitation of) śam no devi² theyshould be consecrated. Sea water (should be kept) in the eastern pitcher. 

2. YV, 10.9.4a.

8-9. Having kept the Ganges water in the (pitcher on the) south-east, rain water in the (pitcher on the south, water from waterfalls in the (pitcher on the south-west, river water in the west, water from a masculine river in the north-west, spring water in the north, waters from sacred places (should be kept) in the north-east. In the absence of all the above, river water (should be poured into these pitchers) with the chanting of yasam rāja³. 

3. not identified.

10. After having cleansed and anointed the eyes with the three sweet things (honey, sugar and clarified butter) with (the mantra) durmitriya⁴, theyshould be opened with Chitram⁵ and tacchakṣuḥ⁶. 

4. VS.6.22 and T.S. 1-4-45-2.

5. RV.1.115.1a.

6. RV 7.66-16a.

11. Having invoked lustre in them the priestshould be offered a golden cow. (The image of) Varuņashould be consecrated with the (waters of the) pitcher on the cast with (the recitation of) samudrajyestha.⁷ 

7. RV. 7.49.1a

12-13. The waters of the Gangesshould be poured with (the mantra) samudram gaccha¹, rain waters with somo dhenum², water from waterfalls with deviräpa³, the water of the masculine rivers with pañchanadyah⁴", the spring water with udbhid⁵, the waters from sacred places with påvamädni⁶, the pañchagavya (the five things from a cow) with apo hi shtha⁷ and from the golden (pitcher) with hiranyavarņām⁸. 

1. RV Kh. 5-19-2.

2. RV.1.91-20a.

 3. MS. 1.1.11.

4. VS. 34-11a. 

5. Could not be identified.

6. Designation of the hymn svådisthayā madisthaya RV.

9.1.1. 7. RV.10.9.1.a.

8. RV Kh. 5-87-1a.

14. (The imageshould be bathed) with rain water with apoasmā⁹, with well waters with the vyāhrtis (bhuḥ, bhuvaḥ, suvaḥ). (Image of) Varuņashould be consecrated with the waters of the tank with varuņādbhiḥ¹⁰. 

9. RV, 10.17-10a.

 10. Could not be found.

15. Waters from the hills (should be poured) with (the mantra) āpo devi¹¹ and then with the waters from eightyone pitchers. 

11. TS. 1-3.8-2. 

Then(the image)should be bathed with varuņasya¹² and waters for sipping (should be given) with tvanno varuna^13. 

12. One of the many hymns beginning so. Sec Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance C. 106. 

13. Cf. RV. 10.147.5a.

16-17. The madhuparka¹⁴should be given) with the vyährtis,¹⁵ clothes with bruhaspate¹⁶, pavitra with varuņa¹⁷, the upper garment with pranava (Om). 

Flowers etc. chowriec, mirror, umbrella, fan and bannershould be offered to (the image of) Varuņa with (the mantra) yadvārunya¹⁸. 

14. Curd, clarified butter, water, honey, sugar.

15.Cf. RV. 2. 23.15a. 

16. Cf. RV.9. 83-1a.

17. Could not be identified.

18. Could not be identified. 

18. The imageshould be raised up with the principal mantra (saying) 'Rise up and the preliminary consecration is made that night. The presence of divinity is accomplished by varuņam ca¹⁹. Itshould be worshipped with yadvārunya. ²⁰ 

19. RV.1.2.7b.

 20. Could not be identified. 

19-20. Lifeshould be infused into the image with the principal mantra andshould again be worshipped with perfume etc. Having worshipped it well in theshed as before after having offered twigs etc. into the fire pits with (the recitation of the pranava) the first word of the Vedas, four cowsshould be milched in the four directions. Then gruel of barleyshould be prepared and offered to the fire. 

21. The invocationshould be performed with the vyāhrstis, gāyatri and the principal mantra. Oblationshould be done with the mantra suryāya prajāpataye dyauḥ svähä сjāntariksakaḥ. 

22. (Ceremony is to be performed) for the earth, Dehadhruti, Svadhshti, Rati, Ugra, Bhima, Raudraka. 

23-24. Vishnu, Varuņa, Dhåtr, Mahendra the furtherer of riches, Agni, Yama, Nairrsta, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Isha Ananta, Brahman and the lord of watersshould be propitiated with oblations reciting svähä and (the mantras) idam Vishņuḥ¹ and tad vipräsa². 

1. RV.1.22.17a.

         2. RV.1.22.21a.

25. Having made oblation six times with somo dhenu³, oblationshould be made with imam me⁴. Again oblationshould be done thrice with apo hi sthā⁵ (and once) with imā rudrā⁶. 

3. RV.1.91.20a.

4. RV.1.25.19a.

5. RV.10. 9. 1a.

 6. RV.10.1.114.1a.

26. Bali (offering)should be made in the ten directions. The imageshould be worshipped with perfumes and flowers The imageshould be lifted and placed in a mystic diagram by a wise man, 

27-28. (The image)should be worshipped with perfumes and flowers as well as golden flowers duly. The excellent priestshould lay eight raised platforms filled with sand after having made ready the water tanks measuring two feet. Then clarified butter (should be given as oblation) hundred and eight times with (the mantra) varuñasya⁷.

7. Could not be identified. 

29. Then the barley gruelshould be offered in the fire and purificatory water sprinkled over the image. The rite to bring life into the imageshould be performed. 

30. Lord Varuņashould be contemplated as being accompanied by goddess Gauri and the host of masculine and feminine rivers. Then having worshipped with the mantra "om salutations to Varuņa", the act of bringing nearshould be done. 

31. (The image)should be lifted and carried around on the back of elephant etc. and along with the eight auspicious things (a brahmin, cow, fire, gold, clarified butter, sun, water and king). With the recitation of apo hi shtha¹, itshould be immersed in the water of the pitcher into which the three sweet things have been put. 

1. RV.10.9.1a.

32. The imageshould be placed in the midst of the tank unscen. (The priest)should bathe and contemplate on Varuna, the creation known as the primordial egg. 

33. Having purified it with the principal letter (of the mantra) of the fire, the ashesshould be scattered over the earth. The entire world consists of water. Hence, the lord of waters is contemplated. 

34. The sacrificial post of a rectangular, octagonal or circularshapeshould be placed in the middle of the tank. 

35. Having worshipped the symbol of the lord, post made of the tree used for the purpose of sacrifice (should be driven) ten cubits into the ground in the case of (consecration of) a well. At the bottom of the post gold and fruitshould be placed. 

36. Itshould be driven into the ground in the middle of water fifteen cubits in the case of a well, twenty (cubits) in the case of a tank (puskariņi) and twentyfive cubits in the case of a pond. 

37. In the alternative, (the post)should be driven in the centre of the sacrificial bed and with the mantra yüpavraska² clothshould be put around. The bannershould be put at the top of the post. 

2. RV.1.162. 6a. 

38. Having worshipped it with perfumes etc., (the rite for) universal peaceshould be performed. The spiritual preceptorshould be given the fees (in the form of) land, cows, gold and water vessel. 

39-40. Feesshould be paid to twice-borns. Those who are presentshould be fed. "From Brahman down to inanimate objects like) the pillar all those who seek water may get satisfied with the waters of the tank!" (With the utterance of these words) the watershould be given as charity. The five things got from a cowshould then be thrown into the water). 

41. With the utterance of (the mantra) apo hi stha¹ thrice, the sanctified water got ready by the brahmins and the holy waters of the sacred spotsshould be sprinkled (into the tank) and herd of kineshould be given to brahmins. 

42-43. Food and other thingsshould be given to all the people without any restraint. One who consecrates a reservoir of water (acquires) in a single day a merit ten crores timcs more than one who performs thousands of asvamedha (the horse-sacrifice). Such a person goes to heaven in the (celestial) vehicle and rejoices (there). He never goes to hell. 

44. The consecrator can never get any sin as the cattle and other (animals) drink water from it. One attains all merits by the endowment of water (tank) and goes to heaven.