267 - Ceremonial bathing known as Maheśhvara and other kinds of ablutions

Pushkara said: 

1. Ishall describe the bathing (known as) Mäheśhvara that has been described by Ušhanas (preceptor of demons) to Bali, the king of demons, in olden days and that would promote the victory of a king and others. 

2. When the sun has not risen the votaryshould be bathed on a seat with (the waters of) pitchers (with the repetition of the following words): Om obeisance to Lord Rudra and to Bala besmeared with ashes of gręy colour. Victory! Victory! Trample, down all the enemies of a weak man in wars and arguments. Om! Crush down all the (hostile) marchers. Let that god who desires to burn (all the worlds) at the end of the yuga (period), and who having terrible form (accept) this worship. Let that god having thousand rays and white (in complextion) protect your life. May that (Lord) Siva, the destroyer of Tripura¹, who resembles the samvartaka² fire and is of the form of all the gods, protect your life; likhi, likhi, khili oblations. After bathing, oblationsshould be done with sesamum and rice with (the repetition of the above) sacred formulas.

1. The three cities of the demons Tårakāksha, Kamalakṣha and Vidyunmålin. 

2. The fire that destroys the universe at the end.

3. After having bathed with the pañchāmruta³, the trident bearing lordshould be worshipped. Ishall describe (to you) the other kinds of ablutions that would always be for your victory. 

3. The five sweet things-milk, sugar, ghee, curd and honey.

4. Bathing with ghee is said to be excellent for the lengthening of life. (Bathing) with cow-dung would be (conferring) fortune. (Bathing) with cow's urine would destroy the sins. 

5. (Bathing) with milk would be (giving) strong intellect and with curd, would further fortune. One would be destroying the sins by bathing with kusa grass and would get all the things by bathing with the five things got from a cow. 

6. One would get everything (by bathing) with śatamula. One would destroy the sins (by bathing) with the waters (touched by) the horns of a cow. One would get everything by bathing with palāša, bilva, lotus and kuša (grass). 

7-8. Bathing with vachā, two varieties of haridra and musta (is spoken as) excellent for killing the demons. One would gain long life, fame, righteousness and intellect by ablution with washings of gold. It would be auspicious (to bathe) with the washings of silver and copper. One would gain victory and fortune respectively by bathing with the washings of gems and all perfumes. 

9. One would gain health and excellent fortune respectivcly (by bathing) with water containing fruits and water with dhätri. One would get wealth and fortune respectively (by bathing) with sesamum and white mustard and priyangu. 

10. (One would gain) wealth (by bathing with water containing) lotus, blue lotus and kadamba. (One would gain) strength (by bathing) with the water containing (the twigs of) the balā tree. Bathing with the water that has washed the feet of (Lord) Vishnu is the best among all kinds of ablutions. 

11-13a. (At the time of bathing) oneshould repeat the hymn ekakāmdya¹ alone duly. A band made of (the herbs) kustha, päthä, vachā, sunthi, conch and iron etc.should be tied round the wrist with (the repetition of) the hymnākrandayati. ²  Lord Hari (Vishņu) is the master of all desires. One would enjoy all the pleasures by worshipping Him. 

1. Could not be traced.

2. Cf. RV. 6.47.30a.

13b-14. By bathing (the image of Lord Vishnu) with ghee and milk and worshipping Him, one would get rid of biliousness. By offering an oblation of five kinds of pulses one would get free from dysentry. By bathing (the image) with the five things got from a cow, one would get rid of rheumatism. 

15-16. Bathing with dvisneha (ghee and water) with intense devotion would remove derangement of phlegm. Ghee, oil and honey (is said to be) the trirasa (three fluids mixed together) that is excellent for bathing. Ghee and water mixed for bathing (is said to be) dvisneha, Ghee and oil (mixed for bathing is said to be) samala. Bath water with honey, the juice of sugar-cane and milk is known to be trimadhura (three sweet things). 

17-18. Bath water with ghee, juice of sugar-cane, oil and honey (is known to be) trirasa (three fluids) (good) for wealth. An unguent of the three white (things) ---camphor, ušira (a fragrant thing) and sandal (should be used for bath). Sandal, agallochum, camphor, musk and saffron are the five unguents for (Lord) Vishņu that yield all the pleasures. 

19. The three fragrant things are camphor, sandal and saffron. Musk, camphor and sandal (used as an unguent) yield all the pleasures. 

20-22. Nutmeg, camphor and sandal (are said to be) the three cooling things. O son of Bhrugu! The five colours are indicated as yellow, blue, white, black and red. Blue lotus, lotus and jäti (flowers) (are spoken to be) the three cool things (that are commended) for the worship of (Lord) Vishņu. Saffron, red lotuses and red lilies are the three red things. Men would get peace by worshipping (Lord) Vishņu well by (showing) incense, lamp, etc. 

23. One would duly get all peace by worshipping the planets with the gayatri¹ (hymn) after offering a lakh or crore oblations of sesamum, clarified butter, barley and other grains in a square sacrificial pit (done) by eight or sixteen brahmins.

1. RV. 3.62.10.