Hema-hasti-ratha
Hema-hasti-ratha · hema-hasti-ratha, “the golden chariot with elephants”
Grammar: masculine noun; hema (gold), hasti (elephant) and ratha (chariot).
Meaning: a golden chariot with four golden elephants, given as a dāna.
In the scriptures: Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa tells Mahārāja Yudhishṭhira the rite of this dāna (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 189).
The chariot
The dāna is made on a puṇya-tithi, at saṃkrānti or at an eclipse. The wise yajamāna has a golden chariot made in the shape of the chariot of the devatās, shining with jewels, with wonderful toraṇas and four wheels, and with four fine elephants of gold. It stands on one droṇa of sesame laid on the skin of the black antelope.
On it are images of the eight lokapālas, Brahmā, Sūrya and Śiva. In its middle is the mūrti of Bhagavān Vishṇu with Lakshmī; on its dhvaja is the divine vāhana Garuḍa; on the front of the yoke is Vināyaka. It has many kinds of fruit, a canopy, five-coloured silk cloth and open flowers. Its measure, according to capacity, is from above five palas up to a hundred palas of gold.
The rite
Brāhmaṇas who know the Veda bathe the yajamāna with auspicious words, and he does arcanā of the devatās and pitṛs. With flowers in his añjali he goes three times around the chariot and recites the mantras. The first says that Śaṅkara, Brahmā, Sūrya, the lokapālas, the vidyādharas, Vāsudeva, the Veda, the Purāṇa and the yajñas serve the radiant chariot, and asks its protection. The second calls the Master seated on the chariot the most secret state, the cause of ānanda (bliss), beyond guṇa and form, which munis behold in samādhi. The third asks Bhagavān Mādhava to destroy the heap of pāpas by this dāna and to show kṛpā (grace).
The phala
The man who bows thus and gives the golden hasti-ratha is freed from all pāpas. He reaches the loka of Bhagavān Śiva, served by vidyādharas, devagaṇas and munīndras, and he takes his bandhus, pitṛs, sons and all kin to the eternal loka of Bhagavān Vishṇu. The opening of the chapter says that by this dāna a man goes to Vishṇuloka.
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 189