Chapter 64 - Mode of consecration of tanks and ponds (kūpa-pratiṣṭhā)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

l. I shall describe the (mode of) consecration of wells, tanks and ponds [i.e., kūpa, kūpaka]. Listen! Lord Hari (Viṣṇu) as Soma and excellent Varuṇa remains in the form of water.

2. The universe is permeated by fire and water. Viṣṇu in the form of water is its cause. The image of Lord Varuṇa (the presiding deity of waters) should be made of gold, silver or gems.

3. (The image should have) two hands, the right conferring refuge and the left should hold the snake-noose and as seated on the haṃsa along with the rivers and serpents.

4. There should be an altar at the centre of sacrificial shed having a fire-pit. There should be an arch. A pitcher made of stone for Lord Varuṇa should be placed.

5. Pitchers (should be placed) at the entrance to the fire receptacle which may be of a semi-circular shape or a svastika of auspicious nature. Having done the agnyādhāna (rite) in the pit for water the final oblation should be done.

6. (The image of) Varuṇa should be touched in the bathing seat with (the mantra) ye te śate^[1]. It should then be anointed with ghee by the priest with (the recitation of) the principal mantra.

7. Having washed the eight pitchers with pure water with (the recitation of) śaṃ no devī^[2] they should be consecrated. Sea water (should be kept) in the eastern pitcher.

8-9. Having kept the Ganges water in the (pitcher on the) south-east, rain water in the (pitcher on the) south, water from waterfalls in the (pitcher on the south-west, river water in the west, water from a masculine river in the north-west, spring water in the north, waters from sacred places (should be kept) in the north-east. In the absence of all the above, river water (should be poured into these pitchers) with the chanting of yāsāṃ rājā^[3].

10. After having cleansed and anointed the eyes with the three sweet things (honey, sugar and clarified butter) with (the mantra) durmitriya^[4], they should be opened with Citram^[5] and taccakṣuḥ^[6].

11. Having invoked lustre in them the priest should be offered a golden cow. (The image of) Varuṇa should be consecrated with the (waters of the) pitcher on the east with (the recitation of) samudrajyeṣṭhā.^[7]

12-13. The waters of the Ganges should be poured with (the mantra) samudraṃ gaccha^[8], rain waters with somo dhenum^[9], water from waterfalls with devīrāpa^[10], the water of the masculine rivers with pañca nadyaḥ^[11], the spring water with udbhid^[12], the waters from sacred places with pāvamānī^[13], the pañcagavya (the five things from a cow) with āpo hi ṣṭhā^[14] and from the golden (pitcher) with hiraṇyavarṇām^[15].

14. (The image should be bathed) with rain water with āpo asmā^[16], with well waters [i.e., kūpa] with the vyāhṛtis (bhuḥ, bhuvaḥ, suvaḥ). (Image of) Varuṇa should be consecrated with the waters of the tank with varuṇādbhiḥ^[18].

15. Waters from the hills (should be poured) with (the mantra) āpo devī^[19] and then with the waters from eighty-one pitchers. Then (the image) should be bathed with varuṇasya^[19] and waters for sipping (should be given) with tvanno varuṇa^[20].

16-17. The madhuparka^[21] should be given) with the vyāhṛtis,^[22] clothes with bṛhaspat^[23], pavitra with varuṇa^[24], the upper garment with praṇava (Om).

Flowers etc. chowrie, mirror, umbrella, fan and banner should be offered to (the image of) Varuṇa with (the mantra) yadvāruṇya^[25].

18. The image should be raised up with the principal mantra (saying) ‘Rise up’ and the preliminary consecration is made that night. The presence of divinity is accomplished by varuṇaṃ ca^[26]. It should be worshipped with yadvāruṇya.^[27]

19-20. Life should be infused into the image with the principal mantra and should again be worshipped with perfume etc. Having worshipped it well in the shed as before after having offered twigs etc. into the fire pits with (the recitation of the praṇava) the first word of the Vedas, four cows should be milched. in the four directions. Then gruel of barley should be prepared, and offered to the fire.

21. The invocation should be performed with the vyāhṛtis, gāyatrī and the principal mantra. Oblation should be done with the mantra sūryāya prajāpataye dyauḥ svāhā cāntarikṣakaḥ.

22. (Ceremony is to be performed) for the earth, Dehadhṛti, Svadhṛti, Rati, Ugra, Bhīma, Raudraka.

23-24. Viṣṇu, Varuṇa, Dhātṛ, Mahendra the furtherer of riches, Agni, Yama, Nairṛta, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Kubera, Īśa, Ananta, Brahman and the lord of waters should be propitiated. with oblations reciting svāhā and (the mantras) idaṃ viṣṇuḥ^[28] and tad viprāsa^[29].

25. Having made oblation six times with somo dhenu^[30], oblation should be made with imaṃ me^[31]. Again oblation should. be done thrice with āpo hi ṣṭhā^[32] (and once) with imā rudrā^[33].

26. Bali (offering) should be made in the ten directions. The image should be worshipped with perfumes and flowers. The image should be lifted and placed in a mystic diagram by a wise man.

27-28. (The image) should be worshipped with perfumes. and flowers as well as golden flowers duly. The excellent priest should lay eight raised platforms filled with sand after having made ready the water tanks measuring two feet. Then clarified. butter (should be given as oblation) hundred and eight times with (the mantra) varuṇasya^[34].

29. Then the barley gruel should be offered in the fire and. purificatory water sprinkled over the image. The rite to bring. life into the image should be performed.

30. Lord Varuṇa should be contemplated as being accompanied by goddess Gaurī and the host of masculine and feminine rivers. Then having worshipped with the mantra “oṃ salutations to Varuṇa”, the act of bringing near should be done.

31. (The image) should be lifted and carried around on the back of elephant etc. and along with the eight auspicious things (a brahmin, cow, fire, gold, clarified butter, sun, water and king). With the recitation of āpo hi ṣṭhā^[35], it should be immersed in the water of the pitcher into which the three sweet things have been put.

32. The image should be placed in the midst of the tank unseen. (The priest) should bathe and contemplate on Varuṇa, the creation known as the primordial egg.

33. Having purified it with the principal letter (of the mantra) of the fire, the ashes should be scattered over the earth. The entire world consists of water. Hence, the lord of waters is contemplated.

34. The sacrificial post of a rectangular, octagonal or circular shape should be placed in the middle of the tank.

35. Having worshipped the symbol of the lord, post made of the tree used for the purpose of sacrifice (should be driven) ten cubits into the ground in the case of (consecration of) a well [i.e., kūpa, kūpaka]. At the bottom of the post gold and fruit should be placed.

36. It should be driven into the ground in the middle of water fifteen cubits in the case of a well, twenty (cubits) in the case of a tank (puṣkariṇī) and twenty-five cubits in the case of a pond.

37. In the alternative, (the post) should be driven in the centre of the sacrificial bed and with the mantra yūpavraskā^[36] cloth should be put around. The banner should be put at the top of the post.

38. Having worshipped it with perfumes etc., (the rite for)universal peace should be performed. The spiritual preceptor should be given the fees (in the form of) land, cows, gold and water vessel.

39-40. Fees should be paid to twice-borns. Those who are-present should be fed. “From Brahman down to (inanimate

objects like) the pillar all those who seek water may get satisfied with the waters of the tank!” (With the utterance of these words) the water should be given as charity. The five things got from a cow should then be thrown (into the water).

41. With the utterance of (the mantra) āpo hi ṣṭhā^[37] thrice, the sanctified water got ready by the brahmins and the holy waters of the sacred spots should be sprinkled (into the tank) and herd of kine should be given to brahmins.

42-43. Food and other things should be given to all the people without any restraint. One who consecrates a reservoir of water (acquires) in a single day a merit ten crores times more than one who performs thousands of aśvamedha (the horsesacrifice). Such a person goes to heaven in the (celestial) vehicle and rejoices (there). He never goes to hell.

44. The consecrator can never get any sin as the cattle and other (animals) drink water from it. One attains all merits by the endowment of water (tank) and goes to heaven.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Kāt. Śr. Su. 25.1.11a.

[2]:

YV. 10.9.4a.

[3]:

Not identified.

[4]:

VS.6.22 and T.S. 1-4-45-2.

[5]:

ṚV. 1.115.la.

[6]:

ṚV 7.66-16a.

[7]:

ṚV. 7.49. la.

[8]:

ṚV Kh. 5-49-2.

[9]:

ṚV.l.9l-20a.

[10]:

MS. 1.1.11.

[11]:

VS. 34-11a.

[12]:

Could not be identified.

[13]:

Designation of the hymn svādiṣṭhayā madiṣṭhayā ṚV.9.1.1.

[14]:

ṚV. I0.9.1.a

[15]:

ṚV Kh. 5-87-1a.

[16]:

ṚV. 10.17-10a.

[17]:

Could not be found.

[18]:

TS. l-3.8-2.

[19]:

One of the. many hymns beginning so. See Bloomfield, Vedic Concordance C. 106.

[20]:

Cf. ṚV. 10.l47.5a.

[21]:

Curd, clarified butter, water, honey, sugar.

[22]:

Cf. ṚV. 2. 23.15a.

[23]:

Cf. ṚV.9. 83-la.

[24]:

Could not be identified.

[25]:

Could not be identified.

[26]:

ṚV. 1.2.7b.

[27]:

Could not be identified.

[28]:

ṚV. I.22.17a.

[29]:

ṚV. I.22.21a.

[30]:

ṚV. I.91.20a.

[31]:

ṚV. I.25.19a.

[32]:

ṚV. 10. 9. 1a.

[33]:

ṚV. 10.1.114.1a.

[34]:

Could not be identified.

[35]:

ṚV. 10.9.1a.

[36]:

ṚV. 1.162.6a.

[37]:

ṚV. 10.9.1a.