Kaushmāṇḍa Sūkta

Kaushmāṇḍa Sūkta

The Kaushmāṇḍa Sūkta is a Vedic sūkta recited, together with the Purusha Sūkta, in the rite at home that follows the udyāna-pratishṭhā, the consecration of a garden. Sūta teaches this rite to the brāhmaṇas in the Madhyama Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa.

Its place in the rite

When the consecration of the garden is complete, the ācārya and ṛtvijas have been given dakshiṇā and the pūrṇāhuti has been offered before sunset, the yajamāna goes home. There the vipras remember and worship Bala, Kāma, Hayagrīva, Mādhava, Purushottama, Vāsudeva, Dhanādhyaksha and Nārāyaṇa, with naivedya of curd and rice mixed with pañcagavya. On the south Pṛthivī Devī is worshipped with the mantra syonā pṛthivī, with pāyasa mixed with honey: she has the lustre of pure gold, shows the varada and abhaya mudrās, and is adorned with all ornaments. On the left of the house Viśvakarmā is worshipped with the mantra viśvakarman; he is of the colour of pure crystal, bears a śūla and a chisel, and is given bali of honey and pishṭaka.

Then the Kaushmāṇḍa Sūkta and the Purusha Sūkta are recited, and in the same Pṛthvī-homa eight offerings of havishya with honey and pāyasa are given, and one each to the other devatās.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapter 1

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapter 1