Saptadhānya
Saptadhānya · sapta-dhānya, “the seven grains”
Grammar: neuter noun; sapta (seven) and dhānya (grain): “the seven grains”.
Meaning: the seven grains, used together in pūjā, in dāna and in the making of a mūrti.
In the scriptures: the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa lists them in the arghya to Meghapālī on Āśvina kṛshṇa tṛtīyā: yava, godhūma, dhāna, tila, kaṅgu, śyāmāka and caṇaka (Uttara Parva, Chapters 16–17).
- In pūjā: the Aśoka tree is worshipped with gandha, pushpa, dhūpa, dīpa, saptadhānya and many kinds of naivedya (Uttara Parva, Chapters 9–10). The kadalī tree is worshipped with the seven grains in the Rambhā Vrata (Uttara Parva, Chapters 91–92). At the four doors of the maṇḍapa the kalaśas are set on the seven grains (Uttara Parva, Chapter 175).
- As a mūrti: on Bhādrapada śukla tṛtīyā a mūrti of Umā is made from the seven grains in a winnowing basket (Uttara Parva, Chapter 28).
- In dāna: on śukla saptamī, in the Dhānyavrata, one keeps nakta, worships Sūryanārāyaṇa and gives a brāhmaṇa saptadhānya and salt; he uplifts seven generations of his kula (Uttara Parva, Chapter 121). The seven grains are given with the image of the Nakshatrapurusha (Uttara Parva, Chapters 108–109), and in a mahādāna they are set round the jar with sandals, shoes, umbrella, cāmara and bed (Uttara Parva, Chapter 183). The yajamāna sets the halapaṅkti on the seven grains and yokes the bullocks to it (Uttara Parva, Chapter 166).
- For Devī Sāvitrī: saptadhānya is among the things placed in the bamboo vessel and offered to her (Uttara Parva, Chapter 102).
Related terms: Dāna · Dhānyavrata · Meghapālī
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 9–10, 16–17, 28, 91–92, 102, 108–109, 121, 166, 175, 183