The Procedure for the Gift of Gurfa-dhenu

1. I am blessed. I am contented. My life is successful, since the excellent greatness of the Ganga has been heard from your lotus-like mouth.

2. There is no other sacred river equal to the Ganga on the surface of the Earth. The merit accruing from the sight etc. of that river has been described in this manner.

3. О leading Brahmana, I have been always your devotee. In due order, mention the procedure of the gift of Gucjadhenu (a cow made of Jaggery) etc.

4. On hearing those words of Mohini, Vasu, her priest, who knew the principles and real meanings of the Vedas and Agamas said smilingly.

5. О Mohini, listen. I shall recount to you what has been asked by you viz. the procedure for the gift of the cow made of jaggery etc. as glorified and prescribed in the scriptures.

1. Although the chapter is captioned as Guia-dhenu (dana) vidhi, ‘The procedure for the gift of the (replica of the) cow made of jaggery’, it prescribes some thirteen kinds of articles (some liquids) to be presented as ‘cows. This chapter is called Guda-dhenu-vidhi as jaggery is the first in the list of such articles representing cows, vide VV. 22-25 below. The Ml. P. Ch. 81 and AP. 212-10-34 endorse the procedure of the gift (dana) ofguda-dhenu which is broadly thus:

A black-antelope-skin four cubits in length is to be spread overground smeared with cow-dung and overstrewn with darbha grass, with the neck-portion of the skin to the east and a smaller skin symbolic of the calf is also to be spread. The jaggery-cow should be of the weight of 4 or 2 or 1 Bhara and the calf to be proportionately of one quarter of the cow’s weight depending on the affluence of the donor, vide VV. 6-20 below for the detailed procedure of gifting the jaggery-cow. As usual the cow is identified with the Lakftni of all deities. V. 20 states that the above procedure is to be followed in gifting other articles as ‘cows.

6. The ground must be smeared with cow-dung, and Kusa grass must be assiduously spread over it. Over it a deer skin measuring four Hastas (hands) must be placed with the neck (portion) directed towards the east.

7-9a. The replica of the cow shall be so made that its face is turned towards the East and the calf is near the leg on the northern side (i.e. the left side). In the most excellent Gudadhenu four Bharas (special weight of 3000 Palas) of jaggery must be used, and the calf is made with a Bhara of Jaggery. The middling replica of the cow is to be. made with two Bharas of jaggery. The calf must be made with half a Bhara of jaggery. The lowest type of Gudadhenu is made of one Bhara of Jaggery (1 Bhara = 200 Palas). The calf shall then be made with a fourth of it. These replicas are made in accordance with the wealth of the household.

9b-10. A person who is affluent enough to make the earlier type of replica but prepares a latter type of replica, is a person of confused mind. He will not have the excellent future benefit. Both the cow and the calf made of jaggery shall be covered with a soft white cloth.

11. Oyster shells are to be used for their ears. Sugarcane stems for the legs, pure pearls for their eyes; white threads for their sinews and veins and white plants for their dewlaps.

12. The knots on their backs shall be represented by a copper pot; the hair by means of white chowries (tail of the antelope called Camara), corals shall be studded to their feet and butter shall represent the udders.

13. There must be a bell metal vessel for the purpose of milking into. The pupils of the eyes shall be represented by a sapphire gem; the two horns must be bedecked in gold; the hoofs must be of pure silver.

14. Many kinds of fruits (must be given along with the cow). A small case of scents shall represent the snout. After making (the cow and the calf) thus, the devotee shall worship them with incense and lights. The following prayer shall be repeated:

15. ‘‘May the Lakshml of all living beings, may goddess Laksml of the Devas stationed in the form of a cow, give me peace and calmness.

16. May the beloved wife of Sankara stationed in the bodies of the Rudras, may the goddess in the form of a cow dispel my sin.

17. May that Lakshmi stationed on the chest of Vishnu may that Lakshmi in the form of Svaha (wife of the fire god), may the Shakti of the moon, the sun and Indra and which is in the form of the cow be conducive to prosperity.

18. May that Lakshmi of the four-faced deity, may that Lakshmi of Kubcra, may that Lakshmi of the guardians of the worlds, may this cow be the bestower of boons on me.

19. May that Svadha of the chiefs of the Pitis, may that Svaha of the partakers of Yajfta, may this cow that dispels sins grant peace unto me.”

20. After repeating this Mantra the devotee should dedicate the cow to the Brahmana. This is the procedure cited in the case of all articles to be given as cows.

21. О MohinI, listen. I shall describe the nature as laid down in the scriptures, of all those ten kinds of cow glorified a^ destroyers of sins.

22-24a. The first is the cow made of jaggery, the next one is the cow of ghee; the third is the cow of gingelly seeds; the fourth is that named after the water; the fifth shall be the cow of milk; the sixth is made of honey; the seventh the cow of sugar; the eighth shall be the cow of curds; the ninth is the cow of jewels, and the tenth is the one in its own form (the real form).1

24b-25. For the cows in the form of liquids, pots shall be used and for others the masses and heaps of the articles concerned. Some wise men desire to include gold (cows) also among these. Some great sages recommend cows of fresh butter as well as of oil.

26. This alone is the procedure. These alone are the articles facilitating the completion of the holy rite along with the Mantras and invocations in the different Parvans for ever.

1. These verses list the names of the articles to be gifted as ‘cows’. The list is common to Mt. P. 81. 18-19 and AP. 212.11-12. But the NP adds ‘gold, fresh butter and oil as additional articles for cow (v. 25) out of which ‘gold and ‘butter are recommended in the Mt. P. 81. 21 which include Ratna-dhenu (jewelled cow) as well.

27. They must be given as gifts in accordane with one’s faith. They yield worldly pleasures and liberation. They accord the same benefit as mantras. They are auspicious, removers of all sins.

28-29. The cow of jaggery etc. must be given by persons endowed with devotion and faith during tropical and equino- tical transits of the sun, on the holy occasions of Vyatipata, during the anniversaries of the beginnings of the Yugas and Manvantaras, and during the special occasions like eclipses etc.1 They may be given in holy centres, in one’s own house, or particularly on the banks of the Ganga.

30-31. After making this gift of a cow to a leading Brah- mana in accordance with the injunctions, the devotee shall circumambulate the Brahmana and please the Rtviks with monetary gifts. He shall make obeisance to them and bid them farewel. Thereafter, with great concentration and purity of mind, he should worship the Ganga duly.

32-36. He must visit the goddess of divine forms assuming the eight physical bodies, with a Prastha-measure of Sali rice grains and two Prasthas of milk. The devotee should make the milk pudding. He must add honey and ghee a pala of each with devotional feelings. He should then cast off that milk pudding into the Ganga along with sweet-meats and ring-like pies, half a Gunja weight of gold and silver, sandal paste, agollo- chum, camphor, saffron, aromatic resin, Bilva leaves, Durva grass, Rocana (yellow pigment), white sandal, blue lotuses and other fragrant flowers according to his ability. He must be fully devout then.

37-38. О blessed lady, he must respect this Mantra mentioned in the Purana viz- ‘‘Obeisance, obeisance to the Ganga. to Narayanaand to Shiva.” О Mohini, this alone is the procedure. Every month, on the New moon day, and on the full moon day, this must be observed in the morning by persons, with great concentration.

39-41. With great devotion and mental joy, the man must worship thus in accordance with his ability, for the period of a year. He must take only a small quantity of food and that too only Havisya) (cooked rice offerings soaked in ghee). He must observe the vow of celibacy by day and by night. О Mohini, by observing this strictly at the end of a year, the Ganga, assuming divine form, wearing heavenly garlands and bedecked in divine jewels shall reveal herself to him personally. She will stand personally in front of him and grant him boons.

42. О splendid lady! After visualizing with his own eyes, the actual manifestation of the divine form of the Ganga before him, the man shall become quite contented and blessed.

43. Whatever desires he cherishes, he accomplishes them all. If he be devoid of any desire, he will attain the final beatitude in this very existence.

44. Thus the procedure of the worship of the Ganga alongwith that of the gift of cow made of jaggery, about which you asked me, has been recounted by me completely. It is a holy rite that brings about salvation. This observance lasts for a year, and it yields satisfaction to the lord of Shri (Vishnu).

Что способствует осуществлению желаний? Стопроцентная, непоколебимая уверенность в своем...

Что делать, если нет взаимности? А теперь спустимся с небес на землю. Приземлились? Продолжаем разговор...

Что делает отдел по эксплуатации и сопровождению ИС? Отвечает за сохранность данных (расписания копирования, копирование и пр.)...

Что будет с Землей, если ось ее сместится на 6666 км? Что будет с Землей? - задался я вопросом...

Не нашли то, что искали? Воспользуйтесь поиском гугл на сайте: