The Holy rites to be observed on Dafami (i.e. tenth) days (in The Lunar fortnight)

1. Henceforth, I shall recount to you the holy rites to be observed on Dashami (tenth) days (of lunar fortnights). On observing them devotedly, man becomes a favourite of Dharmaraja.

1. It appears that some navami Vratas are associated with dnandd vide Nandini in Mdrgaiirshay mahdnandd in Magha and Anandd in Phalgwm. The last is recorded as Anandd by Hemadri (Vrata I. 948-850). The procedure in the NP. is different from the one recorded by Kane (HD. V. i. P. 270).

2. On the tenth day, in the bright half of the month of Chaitra, the devotee should worship Dharmaraja1 by means of the seasonal Sowers and fruits plucked for tlie nonce, and scents and other things

3. He should either observe fast or take a single meal per day. After feeding fourteen excellent Brahmanas, he should give them monetary gifts according to his capacity.

4. О Brahmana, he who thus performs the worship of Dharmaraja, shall at the behest of Dharma, attain similarity with the Devas — a position from which he will not fall.

5-6. On the tenth day in the bright half of the month of Vaisakha, a man should worship god Vishnu with scents and other articles of worship and formalities) as well as with white fragrant flowers. He should make hundred circumambula- tions, (round Vishnu’s shrine) and assiduously feed Brahmanas. He (thereby) attains to the world of Vishnu (Vishnuloka). No doubt need be entertained in this respect.

7. It was on the tenth day in the bright half of the month of Jyestha that the Jahnavl (the river Ganga), the most excellent of all the rivers, came to the Earth from the heaven. Hence, the day is remembered as the bestower of merit.

8-9. The month of Jyestha,1 2 the bright fortnight, the constellation of Hasta, Wednesday, Dashami Tithi, the Gara (Karana), Ananda (Yoga) and Vyatlpata, the moon in the Zodiac of Virgo and the sun in the Zodiac of Taurus — the combination of all these ten, О Brahmana, is regarded to be highly meritorious. It removes ten kinds of sins.1 Hence it is called Dashahara.

2. This astronomical combination constituting Dasahara is repeated in theSk. P. as follows:

jyeffhe mdsi site pakfe daiamyambudha-hastayor- gardnande Vyatlpdte kanyd candre vffe ravih / dalayoge narah sndtvd sarva-papaih pramucyaU 11

Kane says that the Vardha P. accepts Tuesday instead of Wednesday (HD. V. i. P. 91) but the actual quotation of Vardha P. in the VRJ. p. 165, states that it was on Wednesday on 10th Jyetfha shu. that the GaAgA descended from heaven. The NP. limits the merit of this Vrata to bath in the Ganga but the Nir^aya Sindhu (P. 98), on the authority of the SK.P.». extends the merit of Dalahard to both etc. in all big rivers. A festival of the- Gariga is celebrated in towns and villages in big rivers like the Krishna and the Godavari in Maharashtra, though not on that big scale as found at Haradwar, Prayaga or Varanasi.

1. The other derivation of Dasahara is “that which washes off ten kinds of sins”. The ten kinds of sins are given in Manu XII. 5-7 as follows:

(1) Mental Sins: Coveting another man's wealth, wishing evil to- befall others, entertaining heretical ideas,

(2) Vocal Sins: harshness of speech, speaking the untruth, back-biting, irrelevent speech.

(3) Bodily Sins: misappropriation of another's wealth, injury to living beings, illicit intercourse with another’s wife.

This efficacy of Dalahard is endorsed in other Puranas also; vide Br. P. 63. 15, Nirxtqyasindhu (p. 98) quotes the SK. P and Vardha P to the same effect. The VRJ. (pp. 166 ff) gives details of this Vrata.

2. VV. 14-19 describe the Vrata in honour of the currently believed ten incarnations of Vishiju. The inclusion of the Buddha and Kalki in the list is comparatively late when people forgot that the Buddha was the propagator of a non-Vedic faith.

10. On this day if a delighted devotee takes his holy dip in the Jahnavi in accordance with the injunctions, he goes to Hari’s abode.

11. The tenth day in the bright half of the month of Asadha is remembered by Manu and others as highly meritorious. Holy dip, Japa, charitable gift, or Нота on that day is the bestower of heavenly goal.

12. The tenth day in the bright half of the month of Sravana is the bestower of the fulfilment of all hopes. The worship of Shiva, with scents and other articles of worship on this day, is praiseworthy.

13. Observance of fast, taking of food only at night, feeding of Brahmanas, Japa, the charitable gift of gold, cow, etc. performed on this day — all these are destructive of all sins.

14-19. On the tenth day in the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada, О excellent Brahmana, the holy rite called Dasavatara2 (the ten incarnations) is to be observed. After taking his bath in a water-reservoir (i.e. a tank, a river etc.) and performing Sandhya etc. and the rite of T^arpana to the Devas, sages and Pitrs, he should, with great concentration, worship ten incarnations (of Vishnu) viz. Matsya (the Divine Fish), Kurma (the Divine Tortoise), Varaha (The boar), Narasimha (Man-lion), Trivikrama (the religious student Vamana), Parasu-Rama, Shri-Rama, Kisna, Buddha, and Kalki. О Narada, he (the observer of the Vrata) should worship ten gold images (of these incarnations) in accordance with injunctions. He should then give them to ten excellent Brahmanas after duly honouring them. After observing fast or taking one meal (on that day), he should feed the Brahmanas. After bidding farewell to them, he should enjoy a meal with his friends and relatives. By performing this Vrata with devotion, he shall enjoy all excellent pleasures here. In the end he will go to the eternal Vishnuloka, in aerial chariot.

20-22. The tenth day in the bright half of the month of Asvina is glorified as Vijaya.1 In the morning the devotee places four cow-dung balls in the courtyard of the house in the form of the horizon (i.e. semicircle). In their midst he should worship the four warriors Rama, Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna. Four vessels with lids are taken and smeared with cow-dung. Grains and silver coins are put therein and closed. They are covered with white silken cloth.

Hemadri (Vrata I, 1158-61) instructs to begin this Vrata on 12th MdrgaStrfa Su. VRJ (P. 168) on the authority of the Bhavisyottara P.f givfcs a different procedure though the Vrata commences on Bhadrapada Su, 10th and the Vrata is to be observed for 10 years.

1. VV. 20-25a describe one variety of Vijayd daiami Vrata allied with Rama but not connected with his victory over Ravana which forms the basis of the present Rdmalild festival. This variety is not recorded by Hemadri (Vrata I. 970-73), Nirpaya sindhu (PP. 69-70), VRJ. pp. 169-170 or by Kane (HD. V. i. pp. 188-194).

The other variety in VV 25b-3Ia, which is to be observed by kings or noblemen for securing conquest on the enemies, has been current all over India in slightly different forms. The worship of the Sami tree, royal procession of elephants, horses etc., waving of lights (Nirajana) after return from shami-Pi\jana etc. have been the common features. The NP. does not include the worship of the goddess Aparajita (recorded in Dharma-sindhu, pp.

23. The devotee then worships them in accordance with the injunctions with scents, fragrant flowers, Naivedyas, etc. accompanied by father, mother, brothers, sons, wife and servants.

24-25a. After paying obeisance he feeds the Brahmanas who are duly honoured. By performing this holy rite, the man remains happy throughout the year. О Brahmana, he shall decisively become flourishing in wealth and grains.

25b-31a. (Another holy rite) On the previous NavamI day the devotee goes to a Sami tree and chants Mantras: On the afternoon of the Dasaml day, О Brahmana, the devotee goes again to the Sami tree which is on the eastern side (of the village etc) and takes mud from the foot of tree. To the accompaniment of songs and instrumental music, he brings the mud to the house. He worships the clay in accordance with the injunctions and arranges his army. He goes out of the village by means of the eastern gate without any perturbation. He should get the image of the enemy prepared by means of leaves, etc. or mentally fancy the same. He should feel mentally delighted that the deity will hit the enemy with an arrow that has its tail of gold. He should then return home at night. Or after making all these arrangements he should proceed against the enemy to curb him. О Brahmana, this Dasaml rite, performed always in accordance with the injunctions, shall bestow wealth, victory, sons, cows, elephants, horses, goats and sheep in this world. О Narada, at death he attains heavenly world.

31b-33. One should perform the holy rite of Sarvabhauma- Vrata1 (Vrata for Sovereignty over the world) on the tenth day in the bright half of the month of Karttika. The devotee either observes complete fast or takes only one meal a day. At midnight, outside the house or the city he offers oblations in all the ten directions with Apupa (baked pie) etc. On a level spot of ground smeared with cowdung, he draws #a mystic diagram of a lotus of eight petals. After worshipping Ganesa and other deities he (wipes off sins) by means of these Mantras.

34. May God Indra, the king of the Devas, the granter of all desired things, destroy the sin that is to my east as a result of my own sinful actions.

35. May God Vahni (fire) the king of all splendours, the granter of all desired things quell the sin that is to my southeast as a result of my own sinful actions.

36. May Yama, the king ofPretas, ghosts, the bestower of all desired things annihilate the sin that is to my south as a result of my own actions.

37. May Nirrti, the king of Raksasas, the bestower of all desired things, wipe off the sin that is to my southwest as a result of my own actions.

38. May Varuna, the Lord of aquatic animals, the bestower of all desired things, destroy the sin that is to my west as a result of my own actions.

39. May Vayu, the king of Maruts (gusts of wind), the bestower of all desired things eradicate the sin that is to my north-west as a result of my own actions.

40. May Soma (Moon), the Lord of Rksas (constellations) and Yaksas, the bestower of all desired things, quell the sin that is to my north as a result of my own actions.

41. May Ishana, the lord of Bhutas (goblins), the granter of all desired things, quell the sin that is to my north-east, as a result of my own actions.

42. May Brahma (the Lord of the Prajapatis), the granter of all desired things annihilate the sin that is above, as a result of (my own) actions.

96 ft) though some features in Hemadri (Vrata I. pp. 970-971) such as despatching an arrow at the effigy of the enemy or imagining him to be facing oneself, are common.

In Maharashtra probably due to scarcity of Sami trees, they worship the Aptd tree or its branch on the eastern outskirts of the village. Going out of the boundary of the village is the technical Sxmollanghana (crossing the boundary for “invading the enemy). People return home in the evening and lights are waved round the men. (Nlrajana) by women in the house. They distribute the leaves of the Apia tree as ‘‘gold coins’.

1. VV. 31-47 describe the Sarvabhauma Vrata primarily meant for kings. A similar Vrata is given in the Varaha P. 65.1-6 and VifQudharma P. III. 164. 1-7. The guardians of the quarters are at times identified with the protectors of the worlds. Manu V.96 mentions SQrya (the Sun) as the protector of the South-W»4t instead of Nirj-ti in the NP.

43. May Ananta, the king of serpents, the granter of all desired things, quell the sin that is stationed below me as a result of my own actions.

44. After offering oblations in the ten directions thus, with great concentration, he should alertly offer oblations to Ksetrapala externally.

45. After having completed the rites thus the intelligent devotee should spend the remaining part of the night in mainly auspicious songs, recitation of hymns, Japas etc.

46. In the morning, he should take bath, worship guardians of the worlds (quarters), and honour and feed twelve Brahmanas. He should give them Daksinfi according to his ability.

47. О Brahmana, after performing the holy rite thus, the royal devotee shall enjoy all auspicious worldly pleasures. After enjoying heavenly pleasures thereafter, for the duration of a Yuga, he will become an Emperor.

48. On the tenth day in the bright half of the month of Margasirsa, the devotee should perform the holy rite of Arogyaka Vrata1 (health-giving Vrata). He should worship ten Brahmanas with scents and other things and drink the water with which their feet have been washed.

49-50a. After giving Dakshina to them, he should bid them farewell. He should take only a single meal. О Brahmana, after performing this Vrata the devotee attains health in this world. Thanks to the grace of Dharma-Raja, he rejoices like a Deva in the heaven.

50b-51. On the tenth day in the bright half of the month of Pau?a, he should worship ViSve Devas.1 2 They are Kratu, Daksha, Vasus, Satya, Kala, Kama, Muni, Guru, Vipra and Ram. Kelava has identified himself with these in ten different ways.

1. This is a special variety of Vrata in the NP. Kane records a number of Arogya Vratas on different Tithis, but none of them prescribes the Tirtha (water after washing the feet) of Brahmanas. Even the Vrata on the Daiami day prescribes the worship of goddess Laltfmi and Hari.

2. These gods are supposed to be the sons of Vifad. The list of their names differs e.g. Apte's SK. Diet. p. 523 and MWP. 992 give the following list:

Vasu, Satya, Kratu, Dakfa, Kila, Kima, Dhfti, Kwru, Pururavas and Midravas — the last four are not found in the NP.-list.

52-54. He should make effigies of Darbha grass to represent them as seated in their seats or lying down. О Narada, he should worship them with scents, incense, lights and Nai- vedyas. After giving them Daksina separately, he should ritual - istically bid farewell to them. The gifts that had been offered to them should be given to excellent Brahmanas or to the preceptor. О Brahminical sage, the observer of the Vrata who performs the rite thus, taking in only one meal a day, shall be the enjoyer of pleasures of both the worlds.

55-58a. On the tenth day in the bright half of the month of Magha, the devotee should observe fast and conquer his sense-organs. He should properly and completely worship the ten Devas called Angiras after making their images in gold. He shall worship them with scents and other Upacaras. They are — Atma, Ayus, Manas, Daksha, Mada, Prana, Barhisman, Gavistha, Datta and Satya. О Narada, as their representatives ten Brahmanas are to be fed with sweet cooked rice. For the purpose of acquiring heavenly world, the devotee should give those Brahmanas the golden image.

58b-62. On the tenth day in the bright half of the last month, the devotee should worship the fourteen Yamas. They are: Yama, Dharmaraja, Mrtyu, Antaka, Vaivasvata, Kala, Sarvabhutaksaya, Audumbara, Dadhna, Nila, Paramesthin, Vrkodara, Citra and Citragupta. He should properly and correctly worship them with scents and other Upacaras. He shall perform Tarpana three times for each with handful of water mixed with gingelly seeds. О Narada, thereafter, with a copper vessel he should give Arghya to the sun with the mixture of red sandal, gingelly seeds, raw rice-grains and barley in the waters with the following mantra.

63. "O sun of thousand rays, come О huge mass of splendour, О Lord of the Universe, accept the Arghya given by me with devotion. Take pity опте.”

64-66. The devotee should offer Arghya by uttering the above Mantra. He should feed the fourteen Brahmanas and give them silver coins as Dak?iQa. After bidding farewell to them, he should partake of his own food. О Brahmapa, the devotee who performs the holy rite thus, enjoys all worldly pleasures, inaccessible to the Devas, such a sons and riches. At the death of his body, he occupies excellent aerial chariot and attains to Vishnu’s Loka.

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