265 - The sacred bathing of the deities

Agni said: 

1. Listen to me. Ishall describe the bathing that accomplishes all objects and that is propitiatory. A wise manshould bathe the planets and (Lord) Vishņu on the banks of a river. 

2. One who is afflicted by fever as well as one who is afflicted by planets causing obstacles (should bathe it) in a temple. One who desires to acquire knowledge (should bathe it) on (the banks of) a tank or in the house and one who desires victory (should do the sacred ablution) at a sacred place. 

3. A woman who has a miscarriageshould be bathed in a lotus tank, and one whose issue dies after birthshould bathe in the presence of an ashoka (tree). 

4. One who desires to have flowers, one who desires to have progeny and who desires to have a house and other fortunes (should bathe) respectively at a place abounding in flowers, an ocean and in the presence of (the image of Lord) Vishņu.

5. Bathing in (the asterisms) šravana, revati and pushya is meritorious for all. One who wishes to do the ceremonial bathing has to observe a purificatory vow for seven days prior to that. 

6-8a. (The herbs) punarnava, rochana, satänga, gurunitvak, madhūka, the two sorts of rajani, tagara, någakesara, ambari, mañjistha, māmsi, yasaka, kardama, priyangu, mustard, kushtha, bala, brāhmi, saffron and the five things got from a cowshould be mixed with the flour of barley and rubbed (on the body). Oneshould then bathe. 

8b-11a. (Lord) Vishņushould be worshipped on the pericarp of a circle, (Lord) Brahmä on the right side and (Lord) Siva on the left side. (Lord) Indra and othersshould be drawn from the east onwards in order together with their weapons and associates, Bathing circlesshould be drawn in the different directions and the intermediary directions. (Lords) Vishņu, Brahma, Isa (Siva), Sakra (Indra) and others and their weaponsshould then be worshipped and oblation offered. One hundred and eight twigs, sesamum and ghee (are offered) to each one (of the gods). 

11b-13. The pitchers bhadra, subhadra, siddhartha, amogha, chitrabhānu, parjanya and sudarśhana that give prosperityshould be placed on the ground. (The godsshould be invoked in them as follows): "May the Asvins, Rudras, Maruts, Visvedevas, Demons, Vasus and Munis and other gods get pleased and enter these pitchers.” 

14-16. The herbs jayanti, vijaya, jaya, Satāvari, satapushpå, vishņukrāntā, aparājita, jyotishmati, atibala, sandal, usira, keśara, musk, camphor, bälaka, patraka, tvak, jatiphala (nutmeg), clove, earth and the five things got from a cowshould be put into the pitcher. Then the person (who desires to have the ceremonial bath)should be made to sit on the auspicious seat and bathed by brahmins. 

17-18. Then oblationsshould separately be offered to the gods with the sacred formulas used in the anointing of kings. Then the final oblationshould be made and the fee paid to the preceptor. In olden times (Lord) Indra was able to kill the demons being (thus) bathed by the preceptor. (I) have described (to you) the bathing of the guardians of the directions (that give) victory in the battle and other things.