Chapter 57 - Consecration of pitchers

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. One should do (the ceremony) of taking possession of the ground. One should scatter grains and mustard seeds uttering (the sacred syllable) ‘Nārasiṃha’ which destroys demons. One should sprinkle pañcagavya (the five things got from a cow).

2. Having worshipped the earth in the pitcher containing gems as well as Hari and his retinue, worship the eighteen pitchers therein with the sacred syllable of weapons.

3. The rice grains should be purified by an incessant shower (of water) and scattered around. The pitcher should be placed in their midst.

4-5. Lord Acyuta and (his consort) Śrī should again be worshipped in the pitcher (provided with) a cloth. The bed as well as the mattress should be spread on the kuśa grass on a drawn circle with (the recitation of) the sacred syllable yoge yoge.^[1] Lord Viṣṇu, the slayer of (the demon) Madhu and the lord of the three (divisions of the universe) and also the different lords of learning are worshipped on the bed.

6-7. Having worshipped Vāmana, Śrīdhara, Hṛṣīkeśa, Padmanābha (different forms of Viṣṇu) in the north-west and other (corners) of the bathing place and the Dāmodara (form of Viṣṇu) in the north-east and having brought all the materials to the bathing pavilion they should be deposited in the four pitchers and the altar in the north-east.

8. These pitchers should be consecrated in the four quarters with the pitchers containing water for the consecration. The pitchers should be placed with due regard for the purpose of consecration.

9-11. The young sprouts from the vaṭa udumbara, aśvattha, campaka, aśoka, śrīdruma, palāśa, arjuna, plakṣa, kadamba, bakula and mango trees should be brought and put in the eastern pitcher. The lotus, rocanā (a kind of yellow pigment), dūrvā grass, darbha grass, piñjala (yellow orpiment), the flowers jāti [jātī?] and kunda, (pieces of) sandal wood, red sandal, white mustard, tagara (a kind of herb), and rice should be put on the southern one.

12-14. Silver and gold and earth from the two banks of rivers flowing into the ocean especially the earth from the (river) Jāhnavi (Ganges), the urine of a cow, barley grains, paddy and sesamum should be placed in another pitcher. The viṣṇuparṇī, śyāmalatā, bhṛṅgarāja, śatāvarī, sahadevī, mahādevī, balā and vyāghnī (?), the auspicious things are put in the other pitcher in the north-east.

15. The earth from an ant-hill obtained from seven (different places should be put in another pitcher. The sand from the Ganges and its water should be put in another pitcher.

16. The earth loosened by the boars, bulls, and elephants. with their horns and tusks as well as earth from the root of the lotus and the kuśa grass should be placed in another pitcher.

17. One should put in another pitcher earth got from sacred places and hills. The flowers of nāgakeśara and kāśmira should be put in another pitcher.

18-19. Flowers together with the sandal wood, agallochum and camphor should be placed in another pitcher. (The gems) lapis lazuli, coral, pearl, crystal, and diamond should be put earlier in one pitcher and placed firmly by the holy priests. Another pitcher should be filled with the waters of the rivers and tanks.

20. Another (set of) pitchers filled with perfumes etc. should be placed at eighty-one places and consecrated with the śrīsūkta^[2].

21. Barley grains, white mustard, perfumes, tips of kuśa grass, unbroken rice, sesamum, fruits and flowers should be first placed for the sake of worship.

22. The lotus, (the creeper called) śyāmalatā, dūrvā grass, leaf of holy basil and kuśa grass (should be kept) on the righthand side for being offered at the foot. The madhuparka^[3] is also placed on the right side.

23. The kaṅkola, cloves and nutmeg along with the dūrvā grass and unbroken rice (should be offered) in the fire on the north for the sake of rinsing the mouth.

24. A vessel for offering camphor and perfumes to be applied on the body should be placed on the south-east. A vessel containing perfumes and flowers should be placed on the north-east.

25. The murā, māṃsī, myrabolan, sahadevā and niśā and sixty lamps should be placed. Eight lamps should be kept for the nirājana (showing the light in adoration).

26. The conch, disc, śrīvatsa (mark on the breast of Viṣṇu), thunderbolt, lotus etc. should be placed in a golden vessel along with flowers of variegated colours.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

ṚV. 1.30.7.

[2]:

Hymn commencing with hiraṇyavarṇāṃ hariṇīm. ṚV. Kh. 5.87.1.

[3]:

A respectful offering consisting of five ingredients: curd, clarified butter, water, honey, and candied sugar.