Kalpalatā

Kalpalatā · kalpa-latā, “the wish-creeper”

Grammar: feminine noun, a compound of kalpa and latā (creeper).

Meaning: the wish-creeper.

In the scriptures: Śrī Kṛshṇa tells Yudhishṭhira that by the gift of the Kanaka Kalpalatā, the golden wish-creeper, a man becomes fortunate. It is given by the same rule as the Kalpavṛksha-dāna. One performs dikpāla-homa, the ādhāra and ājyabhāga oblations, the grahayāga and homa with the vyāhṛtis. After the homa, on a puṇya parva, purified by bathing, one worships the Kalpalatā with fruit, akshata, cloth, flowers, dhūpa and the like, makes pradakshiṇā and prays.

The mantra bows to the Kalpalatā Devīs in the form of the brides of the directions, who destroy pāpa, who sustain the whole brahmāṇḍa and the Lokeśvaras, and who give hundreds of fruits beyond all hope. In the Vedas and Purāṇas they are called the supreme śakti of the devas.

Then one gives to brāhmaṇas the ten Kalpalatās, which are the ten directions, and asks forgiveness.

Phala: the one who gives by this rule is victorious, wealthy and has sons in this world. After death he dwells in Indraloka for a whole manvantara, and then becomes a cakravartī king on earth. A woman who gives this dāna bears a cakravartī son endowed with śakti. One who sees this gift, approves of it or hears its māhātmya is also freed (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 178–179).

Related terms: Kalpavṛksha · Dāna

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 178–179