100 - Teachings of Yajnavalkya

Yajnavalkya said: 

1-3. Please listen and understand the symptoms of a person harassed by Vinayaka (Lord of impediments and obstacles). The Victim suffers from hallucinations and dreams as if he or she plunges into deep waters and sees headless trunks and shaven heads. All enterprises being impeded and fruitless he becomes morose and exhausted without any apparent reason. The king is not restored to his kingdom, the virgin does not get a husband, and the pregnant woman does not get a son. The atonement and remedy is thus: - On an auspicious day he should be bathed duly. White mustard seeds and sandal paste should be ground together and kneaded with ghee. All medicinal herbs and fragrant essences should be mixed and the admixture smeared over the patient's head. 

4-5. The patient is seated on an auspicious soft leather cushion red in colour. Brahmins are requested to recite Svastivachana mantras. Four pitchers of the same shape and colour are filled with water from the same pool. Clay, Rochana (yellow pigment), sandal paste, and Guggulu (gum resin) are respectively put into them. 

6-9. The brahmins then recite thus: -"The thousand eyed, hundred-currented flow which the sages drank deep is being poured over you. May the Pavamani (purificatory) hymns sanctify you. Let God Varuna the king Soma (moon) the sun, the planet Jupiter, the god Indra, the wind god and the seven sages resuscitate your lost splendour. Let ill luck sticking to your locks of hair, the line of parting hair, the head, the forehead, the ears, and the eyes be dispelled for ever." 

10. After the ablution, Kusha grass soaked in ghee shall be held round his head, and mustard oil be poured into his cars and over his forehead drop by drop. 

11. With fire ignited in the public road invoked by Svaha mantras, the evil spirits of Kushmanda1 and Rajaputra shall be measured and bound.

1. Gucurbita pepo.

12-14. In the Chatuspatha (where four roads meet) Kusha grass shall be spread on the ground. Various kinds of cooked and uncooked food, flowers of various colours, sweet scents, wine of three kinds, curd, milk pudding, cooked food, ghee, jaggery sweets shall be placed on the ground. The preceptor then prays to the goddess Ambika and offers the food offering with joined palms. 

15. With Durva grass and mustard seeds he shall perform "Svastyayana" (Bon-voyage) rites and pray to Ambika for the birth of sons. 

16. "Give me beauty. Give me fame, O Goddess, give me good luck. Give me sons, give me wealth. Give me all desired objects." 

17. He shall delight the brahmins with white cloth and unguents. The preceptor shall be given a pair of cloths. The planets are then to be worshipped.