Mārgapālī
Mārgapālī · mārga-pālī, “the guard of the road”
Kuśa has other meanings too: see all meanings of Kuśa.
Grammar: feminine noun; mārga (road) and pālī.
Meaning: a structure of kuśa and kāśa, tied high to the east of the city.
In the scriptures: after midday the king should have a Mārgapālī made of kuśa and kāśa tied on high pillars or trees to the east of the city, and offer it pūjā. Then he does homa and satisfies his subjects with food. The king performs āratī of the Mārgapālī, and this āratī gives victory. After that cows, bulls, elephants, horses, the king, the king’s sons, brāhmaṇas, śūdras and all people pass beneath it. The one who ties the Mārgapālī uplifts both his kulas, and those who pass under it stay happy and free from illness for a whole year (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 140).
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 140