28 - The mode of charitable gifts.

Suta said:

1-6. Manu the son of the self-born lord performed ablution and bowed down to Shiva, the lord of Devas. He saw lord Rudra Nllalohita by his divine vision. He eulogised Shiva the bestower of boons by repeating the Rudradhyaya mantras.

With great pleasure the lord said for once — “At the close of your reign you will attain salvation by performing holy rites alone. After saying this he vanished there itself.

After bowing down to the full-bannered lord, Manu the son of the self-born lord ascended the great Meru mountain like Shiva ascending the great bull. There he saw the son of Brahma, the golden-complexioned bestower of boons, Sanatkumara who was endowed with all Yogic powers.

Manu, of great lustre joined his palms in reverence; he bowed down to the bestower of boons, of the form of Brahman, one favourable to the brahmins and he eulogised him.

Sage Sanatkumara had the sense of horripilation on seeing Manu. He, the storehouse of kindness, then spoke kindly:

Sanatkumara said:

7-1 1. “You have come here after seeing and obtaining the rite of ablution from Shiva the tranquil lord of all, from Nilalohita. Whatever it be, if you are desirous of speaking, speak on”

 On hearing his words Manu bowed down to him with palms joined in reverence and said: — “O saintly lord, it behoves you to tell us how one attains salvation by holy rites alone. O saintly lord, salvation is achieved by perfect knowledge. In some places it is attained by means of the combination of the two.

On hearing his words, the saintly lord Sanatkumara, the storehouse of the wisdom of the Vedas and the foremost among the knowers of Shruti, said: —

“Salvation is obtained, O sage, by means of Holy rites and the combination of the two gradually. But it is attained instantaneously by means of perfect knowledge.

12-15. Formerly by not honouring 248 the lord Nandin duly, I had attained the state of a camel due to his curse. Thanks to the grace of Nandin, I worshipped lord shiva and became the son of Brahma. Thanks to the holy rites I attained the divine excellent goal. It was only by practising the holy rites pertaining to Shiva and by worshipping him in various ways and not otherwise.

248. See Linga II. Ch. 9. V-5, note 86.

Sixteen types of charitable gifts which the kings shall bestow upon were mentioned by Nandin for attaining virtue, love, wealth and salvation. Holy rites such as Tuladhirohana (ascending the balance) and other holy charitable gifts were mentioned by the noble-soulcd Nandin. Now listen to them precisely.

16-19. During the auspicious occasions such as eclipses, 249 etc. a splendid raised Mandapa (platform) or kuta (peak-like projecting mound) shall be erected in a holy spot. The extent of the Mandapa etc. shall be twenty, eighteen or sixteen 250 Hastas. A vedi (altar) extending to nine Hastas, eight Hastas or seven Hastas shall be made in the middle. The Vedika (smaller altar) of two or one and a half Hastas is very splendid.

249. grahanadishu kaleshu — at suitable times and places. These are etailed in Matsya, cited in ST.

250. kalahastena — shodasha-hastena ST,

The scale 251 shall be beautiful and shall have twelve (joining) supporting ropes. The devotee shall dig nine square sacrificial pitrus all round.

251. bhrammantika — tula ST, the weighing scale.

20-25. O son of Brahma, the main Kunda shall be between the east and the north-east. The sacrificial pits may be square or triangular in shape. O leading brahmins, the sacrificial pitrus shall be made in the shape of the vagina of women. They shall be semicircular, triangular, circular or hexagonal. The triangle shall be in the form of a lotus. It may have eight angular points also. The bare ground also shall be used. The enclosure shall have four entrances and bedecked with four festoons. There shall be the eight elephants of the quarters. It shall be surrounded by garlands of Darbha grass. The eight auspicious articles shall be procured. There shall be a splendid canopy above. The wood used for the pillars of the Tula (weighing balance) shall particularly be Bilva, Ashvattha, Palasha or Khadira. The wood for the pillar shall be one that is commonly used.

26-28. Or bamboo can be used alongwith other wood structure. The space (for erecting the Tula) shall be eight Hastas long and two Hastas wide. If the main pillar is not wellchiselled it shall have three times girth (?). It shall be circular and free from cracks. The distance between the two pillars of the balance shall be six Hastas or four Hastas.

29. The upper portions shall be six Hastas apart. Its upper (horizontal staff) shall be a cubit in width, or in circumference (if round).

30. The hole in the upper shaft shall be in conformity with the length of the pillars. The suspended Tula (balancing rod) shall be thirtysix (Angulas) 252 in length.

252. shadtrimshanmatra — 36 pieces of gold. Here matra means gold. ST. quotes Vishva in support of this meaning.

31. The diameter shall be eight Angulas and five yavas. The pivotal point (Nabhi) shall be thirtysix Angulas in length (?) It shall be fine and circular.

32. A gold plate shall be fixed in the top, middle and bottom portions. In the middle of the plate shall be three fixing pins.

33. The three fixing pins shall be made of copper or brass. It shall not be made of iron.

34. The fixing pin shall be splendid and facing upwards (i. e. raised) in the middle. It shall be duly fixed to the tip of the Torana (?) by means of threads.

35. The Torana is made in the middle of the Tula in the form of a tongue. In the middle of the upper shaft there shall be an excellent peg.

36. It shall be firmly fixed to the top of the canopy. O sage, a round ring with a hollow shall be tied to the peg.

37. Suspended pendant (Avalambana) shall be fixed to the hanging shaft (?) in the middle of the Tula along with the canopy by means of circular rings.

38. It shall be fixed firmly to the middle of the tula leaving nine angulas (on either side). The width of the (binding) plate shall be five angulas.

39. The two seats shall be made of hard blocks of any strong material and hung below the supporting strings each weighing a thousand palas and measuring five Pradesh as square (a Pradesha = the span between the extended thumb and fore- finger).

40-42. Or they may weigh eight hundred or six hundred Palas. The width of the Kalasha in the middle shall be four palms 253 and the mouth three and a half palms of the hand. The Panchapatra vessel shall be fixed to it. It must have four openings 254 each opening an angula in width. It must have pure and white suspended pendants.

253. Chatustalam — tala is a particular measure. Cf. — cited in ST. 

254. Chatur-dvara, i.e. (consisting of) four holes.

43. Chains shall be fastened to every pendant all round. The loop supporting the chain shall be joined to the pendant.

44. After leaving four span-lengths from the ground the pans shall be suspended. Two jars of human size and splendid in appearance shall be taken.

45. They shall be filled with sand. Shiva idol two Hastas long shall be put in the hollow.

46. The learned priest shall fill it with sand completely. It shall be so made that it does not move easily.

47-48. May a great secret be heard. Over the Vedika a mystic diagram shall be drawn with the auspicious materials eight in number bedecked with the auspicious tender sprouts and scattered with flowers and fruits. Incense and lights shall also be used. It shall be as refulgent as the surface of a mirror. The Mandala shall be drawn in the middle of the altar.

49. The Mandala shall be drawn at the outset with four entrances. It must be beautified fully with the pericarp and filaments.

50-51. It shall be of various colours. At least there shall be five colours. The picture of the thunderbolt shall be drawn in the east, the shining Shakti in the south-east; a staff in the south and a sword in the south-west. The noose shall be drawn in the west and the banner in the north-west.

52. The iron-club shall be drawn in the north and the trident in the north-east. To the left of the trident a discus shall be drawn and a lotus to its right.

53-56. After drawing thus, the Homa rite shall be performeed. The main Homa shall be performed by repeating the Gayatri mantra, Svaha unto Shakra, to Vahni, to Yama, to the lord of the Rakshasas, to Varuna, to Vayu, to Kubera, to Ishvara, to Vishnu and Brahma. Homa shall be duly performed with the Pranava ending with Svaha, through the (ire generated in accordance with the tenets of one’s own branch of the Vedas. Then the priest shall perform all the rites ending with Jayadi Homa Svishta Homa in accordance with the injunctions. In all these Homas and in the main Homa the sacrificial twig shall be that of Palasha. Twentyone Homas shall be performed repeating the following mantra.

57-64. “This sacrificial twig255 is your Atman, O fire, be kindled thereby; be flourishing; make us prosper in progeny, cattle wealth, brahminical splendour, foodgrains, etc, and intellect, Svaha. Svaha unto Bhur, Bhuvah Svaha, Svah Svaha. Bhurbhuvah Svah.” Homa of sacrificial twigs shall be interspersed with Charu and ghee in order. The milk pudding with white rice and cooked rice with green gram sure the Charus intended.

255. ayanta idhma — AG. 1. 10.12; HG. 1.2.11.

He shall then perform a thousand, five hundred or one hundred and eight Homas repeating the following mantras.

 “O fire, you sanctify our lives.255a In these you put energy and all desired things. Harass our enemies. Agni is the sanctifying sage.255b He is the priest. He is conducive to the welfare. He originates from the Panchajanas. We praise him that is Mahagaya(?) O Agni. purify us 255c with good waters (?) giving unto us excellent virility; giving unto me wealth and nourishment. O Prajapati, 255d the constituents in he universe are not diverse from you. May we have that, desiring which we perform Homa unto you. May we be the lords of wealth.”

255a. agna ayumshi — RV. ix. 66. 19; TS. 1,3.14.7.

255b. agnirrushih pavamanah— RV. ix. 66. 20; TA. 2.5.2.

255c. agne pavasva — RV. ix. 66. 21; TS. 1,3.14,8.

255d. prajapate TS. 1,8, 14.2,

The main Homa is performed by repeating Gayatrl 266, using sacrificial twigs and offering Charu and ghee. Homas shall be performed to Shakra and others as well as to thunderbolt, etc. five hundred in number. Homa unto Brahma shall be performed with the mantra beginning with “Brahma jajnanam” etc; 257 that to Vishnu by the mantra — “We know Narayana. We meditate on Vasudeva. Hence, may Vishnu urge and guide us.”

256. gayatrya— by reciting rudra-gayatri.

257. Brahma jajnanam TS. 4.2.O.2; VS, 13.3.

This special thing about the splendid path of Homas has been mentioned.

Twenty Homas shall be performed severally with the Durva grass mixed with milk.

We worship the three-eyed deity who increases nourishment and who is fragrant. Just as the cucumber fruit is separated from the root may we be separated from death, but never from nectar.258

258. tryambakam yajamahe RV. vii. 59. 12; TS, 1. 8. 6. 2.

 This Durva Homa is very splendid and Vastu Homa is similar to that by all means. The expiatory Homa rite shall be performed with Aghora mantra by pouring ghee. Each of these Homas shall be performed hundred times. Brahma stands to the left, Vishnu to the right. Shiva the preceptor of the universe is in the middle along with the goddess Uma. He is surrounded by Indra and others as well as his Ganas.

65. He shall worship also Aditya, Bhaskara, Bhanu, Ravi and lord Divakara along with Usha, Prabha, Prajna, Sandhya and Savitri respectively.

66-69. Worship shall be performed in fivefold ways unto the noble-souled Khakholka. After worshipping Vishtara, Subhaga, Vardhani, Pradakshina and goddess Apyayani he shall worship Ravi many times in the lotus seat. Vimala is worshipped in the south, Sara in the west, Aradhya in the north and Sukha in the middle.

In the filaments in due order the following shall be worshipped — Dipta, Sukshma, Jaya, Bhadra, Vibhuti, Vimala, Amogha and Vidyuta. Sarvatomukhi shall be worshipped in the middle.

70-71. In due order the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu shall be worshipped and Homa performed unto them. Yogins shall be given special gifts. Yogins he sole masters of Shaiva philosophy shall be fed.

72-73. Yogins who are richly endowed with the divine Vedic study shall be duly honoured. After performing these rites in detail even while the Homas are being performed, the king shall be made to mount the scale in the balance that is to the east, repeating the Rudradhyaya mantras. The king shall be made to sit there for twenty-four minutes.

74. The sacrifice shall repeat the mantra called Rudra Gayatri. For the period of a Ghatika or half of it or still half of it, he shall be seated.

75-76. The intelligent devotee shall sit with concentration. He shall hold the Darbha in the hand and face the west. 259 The king is richly adorned with all ornaments. He holds the sword and the iron club Khetaka. The Punyaha rite shall be performed by brahmins who are masters of the Vedas and the ancillaries repeating the word “Svasti” in the beginning and in the end.

259. Varunam. According to ST. it means ‘the sun’.

77-78. There shall be auspicious shouts of victory and hanting of the Vedic mantras, splendid vocal music as well as instrumental accompanied by dances. All these shall add beauty and splendour to the ceremony. He shall place the gold to the northern side till the scales of the balance become equal.

79. If the amount exceeds hundred gold coins it is very xcellent. If it is half of that it is Madhyama (neither good nor bad). If it is still half of that (i.e. 25 coins) it is inferior. Thus they are divided into three types.

80-81. All the following articles that had been worn at he beginning of the holy rite viz. — two cloths, the turban, the earring, the splendid necklace round the neck, the ring that adorns the finger, and the ornament round the wrist, shall be given to the devotee who regularly performs the Pashupata rite and who smears Bhasman all over his limbs.

82-83. All the ornaments mentioned before, along with the urban and cloths shall be given to those who perform the rites. The learned man shall give a cloth to cover all these along with a monetary gift of hundred gold coins or half of that or still half of it. To all the yogins he shall give gold coins severally.

84. He shall give all the divine materials used for the sacrifice, to the chief preceptor. To the other ascetics he shall give a gold coin each.

 85-89. The gold pieces on the balance shall be dedicated to Shiva. The palace, Mandpa, rampart, ornaments, gold flower, drum, sword and the case for the sword shall be formally dedicated to Shiva. Whatever remains, the intelligent devotee shall give unto the preceptor and particularly to those who have smeared their bodies with Bhasman. All the prisoners in the jail shall be released. He shall perform the ablution of the lord with a thousand Kalashas. The lord shall also be duly bathed with ghee or milk, or curds or by all commingled. The ablution may be performed with Brahmakurcha (cow’s urine) or Panchagavya.

90-96. The cow’s urine shall be mixed by repeating Gayatri with the cowdung by means of Pranava, the milk by repeating the mantra “Apyayasva” and the curds by repeating the mantra “Dadhikravnah” etc. The ghee shall be added repeating the mantra “Tejosi” etc. The Abhisheka (with Pancha- gavya) shall be performed with lshana mantra. Repeating the mantra “Devasya Tva” etc. the ablution of the lord of Devas shall be performed with the water in the pot along with Kushagrass. The lord shall be bathed with the Rudradhyaya mantras. Thousand Kalashas shall be used and thousand names of the lord uttered as repeated formerly by Vishnu, Tandin or Daksha the chief of sages. This great worship of Mahadeva shall be performed with deep devotion. To the worshipper of Shiva and to one’s own preceptor monetary gift shall always be given. The covering for the bodies, i.e., clothes of silk or blanket shall also be given along with the monetary gifts. Poor, blind, wretched, old, lean and sick people as well as children shall be duly fed and given Dakshinas. 260

260. For detail, see Matsya— tulapurushadanavidhi.