Part 5: Birth-ceremonies of Śītala

Then the fifty-six Dikkumārīs—the eight living in the lower world, the eight belonging to the upper world, the eight from each of the directions of Rucaka, the four from the intermediate points, and the four from the center of Rucakadvīpa—whose thrones had shaken, came and performed the birth-rites. Śakra, too, came there very quickly, took the Master himself and, surrounded by gods, went to the peak of Mt. Sumeru. Holding the Lord on his lap, the Lord-of-the-sky sat down on the lion-throne on Atipāṇḍukambalā. Then Acyuta and the other Indras sprinkled the Lord with water brought from the ocean, rivers, pools, etc. Then Śakra placed the Lord on Īśāna’s lap and bathed him then with water spurting from the tips of the horns of the crystal bulls created (by Śakra).

After he had anointed the Lord of the World with divine unguents and had worshipped him with ornaments, etc., Śakra began a hymn of praise as follows:

Stuti:

“O moon to the Ocean of Milk in the form of the Ikṣvāku-family, hail! O sun for driving away the deep sleep of the delusion of the world, hail! I hope my eyes, tongue, and arms may be eternal to see you, to praise you, and to worship you. O Master, lord of the tenth congregation, these flowers are laid at your lotus-feet, but the fruit has fallen to me. You have descended to the human world, like a new cloud, giving exceeding joy to souls burned by the heat of pain. Today may living creatures have new prosperity from the sight of you, O Lord, like trees from spring. The days which have been purified by the sight of you, those are days to me, but other days are like a night of the black fortnight. People’s bad karma is constantly sewn together, as it were, by the soul; now let it be forced loose by yon quickly, like iron by a loadstone. Whether I am here or in heaven, or somewhere else, may I be your vehicle, carrying you alone in my heart.”

After he had so praised the tenth Arhat Daśaśatekṣaṇa (Śakra) took him, carried him and placed him at Nandā’s side, according to custom.