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Agni Purana Pt. 4 (AITM Vol. 30): Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology
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The Agni Purana, like most of the other Puranas, is of an encyclopedic character. Like the parts, this part also contains topics of diverse nature, as a glance through the contents will show. They include the art of wielding common weapons like swords, mace, etc., judicature, settlement of civil disputes and criminal proceedings against offenders, the use of Vedic hymns for accomplishing specific secular and religious purposes, observances for averting bad effects of portents and planets, modes of worshipping various deities, description of the recensions of the Vedas, merit accruing from making gifts of Puranas, etc. Several chapters are devoted to the description of Solar, Lunar, and other royal dynasties. There is a lot of material of medical interest. In addition to human diseases and their treatment by herbs and sacred formulas those of horses and elephants are also discussed and remedies prescribed for their cure: Different kinds of snakes, medical treatment for their bites, the use of herbs, and incantations to remove their poison are taken up at length. In brief, the reader will find a wide range of interesting and useful material therein.

 

 

Preface from the 1st Part

The present volume contains the Agni Purana Part I (Chapters 1-100) in English Translation. This is the twenty-seventh Volume in the Series on Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology.

The project of the Series was envisaged and planned in 1970 by Lala Sundar Lal Jam of Messrs Motilal Banarsidass. Hitherto twenty-six volumes of the Series (comprising English translations of Siva, Linga, Bhagavata, Garuda, Narada, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas) have been published and released for sale.

The present Purãna, like all other Purãnas, is of encyclopedic character. The early chapters which open this Part describe the glories of lord Viz in his different forms. There are legends of Viz as Fish saving Manu from drowning in the Cosmic Flood, as a Tortoise supporting Mount Mandara at the churning of the ocean, as Boar slaying Daitya Hirayaka, as Man-lion killing Hirayakasa, as Dwarf cheating Bali, as Paraurama destroying Katriya rulers, as Rama assassinating Rãvaa, as Kra beheading Kathsa, as Buddha preaching the gospel of meditation, as Kalki to slay Mlecchas.

Going ahead, we find that a considerable portion of this Part deals with the Tantrika ritual for the installation and consecration of images of Visnu, Siva and other deities in their respective temples. A number of chapters relating to the initiation of a novice to the cult and the rites of initiation. The rites are described in detail. They are interspersed with the mystic syllables of Tantras which impart efficacy to the ritual concerned. A number of chapters throw light on the characteristics of images, the mode of their installation and worship. Scattered here and there are the chapters on creation, on purification of oneself and others, on the positions of fingers (mudras) in worship and on scores of other topics with details not found in other Puränas. As to the date of this Purana, nothing can be said with certainty. It is a compilation of various works written in different periods, no single date can be assigned to the Purana as a whole. But, what is certain is that several sections were written long before the Mahommedan invasion. For instance, the chapter on archery and arms civil administration and military discipline are pure of Hindu character and can claim antiquity. Chapters on medicine and grammar are also old. Summaries of the Ramayana and Mahabharata indicate that the sections were written when Hinduism was in a flourishing condition and the epic tradition had become sacred. Sections on avataras on polity and judicature on genealogy and history of ancient kings and distinguished personages also belong to pretty olden times. Sections on religions are also old as they seem to have been written when there was no rift among various sects.

But the Purana contains sections which are obviously later in date. For instance, a considerable number of chapters which deal with the mystic rules, mantras and ceremonies cannot claim antiquity. They might have been written after the Tantric form of worship had become popular in India.

 

Introduction

According to the definition of the grammarian Panini the etymologist Yaska and the Puranas themselves the word Purana is that which is existing for a long time past. Itihasapurana is held as the fifth Veda in the Chandogyopanisad. The Vedas do not use the word. Purana as referring to the class of literature now known as the Puranas. The Brhamanas refer to the practice of recitation of the Puranas at the sacrifices. The plural usage puranani in the Taitiriya aranyaka leads us to infer that the day of the Aranyakas of Valmiki refers to the class of literature known as Purans. According to Mahabharata, the itihasapurana had to be used as a supplement to Vedas. It also declares that Veda is afraid that men of little learning would misinterpret it. The Artha sastra of Kautilya names the atharvadeda and Itihasa as Vedas and names the three Vedas Rg, Yajus and saman.

According to a tradition found in Skanda Padma and Matsya puranas the Puranas were one single literary piece consisting of three topics dharma artha and kama.

From the Nyayasutrabhasya of Vatsyayana we find that the following three broad divisions of the literature existed (1) the Vedas consisting of the formulae for sacrificial rites and rules relating to them (2) the Itihasa and Purana dealing with the history of the world or people and dealing with the history of world or people and (3) the Dharmasastra for the determination of punya and papa in the world. It seems the last section was also incorporated in the Puranas in C.5th or 6th century A.D.

The Puranas hold identical views regarding the origin of the Puranas from the mouth of Brahma the only point of difference is regarding the time of their origin either before or later to the Vedas while the Vedas came out of Brahma in order the Puranas came out at the same time.

The Puranas are unanimous in their view that Vyasa made the Puranasamhita and instructed his pupil Lomaharsana whom he entrusted the work of spreading it. This is considered to have been at a time when the Vedas were divided into four. Vedavyasa who had the knowledge of the Puranas is said to have composed the Pranasamhita based on the akhyana, Upakhyana and gatha etc. while the akhyana is the narration about an incident in which the speaker himself has witnessed the upakhyana is that which was heard somebody and retold. Gathas are the metrical quotations found in the Vedas Brahmanas etc.

We also find a traditional definition in some of the Puranas according to which a Purana should comprise the five topics namely (1) the primary creation (2) the secondary creation (3) the genealogy of gods and sages (4) the periods of Manu and (5) the accounts of royal genealogy. While some of the Puranas satisfy this definition most of them do not.

Almost all the Puranas contain either brief or in detail these topics. The first topic Sarga concerns with the creation of the categories divided into three groups Prakrta, Vaikrta and Ubhayatmaka. The first group consist of the following (1) mahat (2) ahankara (3) Bhutatamatras (4) indriya (Jnana and kriya) (5) manas (6) tamas (tamisra, andhatamisra, tamas, moha and mahamoha). The second group consists of (1) urdhvasrotaks (higher orders) (2) tiryaksrotas (lower orders) and (3) arvaksrokas (middle orders). The last group consists of Kaumara sarga creation of sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanata kumara.

The second topic namely the pratisarga, describes the different kinds of pralaya naimitika, prakrtika, nitya and atantika, the naimititika is that which takes place at the end of Brahma’s one day i.e. a Kalpa. It lasts during the period of Brahma’s night. The prakrtika is that in which the seven prakrtis (mahat ahankara and the five tanmatras) merge in that one which was the cause of their origin at the end of parardha (fifty years) of Brahma’s life. The Nitya is that which takes place every day during the night when all go to sleep. The atyantika takes place at the end of hundred years of Brahma’s life.

The third one the vamsa is that which gives an account of the genealogy of the kings and sages belonging to the past present and future rajnam brahmaprasutanam vam sastraikaliko nva yah.

The fourth one the manavantara gives the names of Manus their periods the names of sages Indra etc. (manvantaram manurdeva manuputrah surevarah rsayo msavatarasca hareh sadvidhamucyate.

The fifth one the vamsanucaria describes the lives of great sages and kings born in a particular lineage (vamsamcaritam tesam vrttam vamsadharasca ye.

However, these topics are very meagerly represented in most of the Puranas. The above subjects are dealt with in a comparatively abridged form in Agni P. and Gar, P. and paraphrased in vi. There are only three cases of a complete description of these five topics in the Purana literature namely in the Brahma P, Brahmanda P, and Vay. P and Mat P. Pargiter opined that there was one complete harmonious account from which others were reproduced.

Almost all the Puranas have a sectarian character according to the cult of the deity they adhere to. This gave rise to new definitions for the Puranas. According to the Brahmavaivarta the five characteristics. The Bhagavata also prescribe ten characteristics of a purana. There are creation details of creation duties of sentient beings protection of devotees ages of manu, dynasties of kings and sages, careers of individuals dissolution of the world cause of creation and Brahma. The Matsyapurana adds in addition to the above ten characteristics the following characteristics also the glorification of Brahma, Visnu, Surya and Rudra, dissolution and preservation of the world and the four purusarthas. The Jayamasngala a commentary on the Arthasastra of Kautilya quotes a verse from some old work giving a new set of five topics such as the creation existence destruction the pursuit of righteousness and liberation for a Purana.

 

Preface from the 2nd Part

The present volume contains the Agni Purana Part I (Chapters 1-100) in English Translation. This is the twenty-seventh Volume in the Series on Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology.

The project of the Series was envisaged and planned in 1970 by Lala Sundar Lal Jam of Messrs Motilal Banarsidass. Hitherto twenty-six volumes of the Series (comprising English translations of Siva, Linga, Bhagavata, Garuda, Narada, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas) have been published and released for sale.

This Purana, like most of the other Purãnas, is of encyclopedic character. Like the first part, this part of the Agni Purana contains topics of diverse nature. Nevertheless, there is unity under diversity. For example, Chapters 101-106 which open this part deal with the subject of architecture in relation to temple edifice, house-building and town planning. Ch. 107-l08 describe Svayambhuva's creation and the Cosmographical account of the Universe. Chs. 109-116 deal with the sacred places of pilgrimage on the Ganges and Narmada as well as on the Srisaila mountain. Among the holy places, Vãränasi, Pukara, Kurukshetra, Rajagiha, Prayaga and Gaya figure prominently. Ch. 117 describes the mode of performing ancestral rites at these places. Chs. 118 to 120 are devoted to the description of Continents with special reference to Bharata, the sub-continent of Jambudvipa. Chs. 121 to 149 relate to astrology and astronomy in relation to war. They also outline a number of stratagems and tantric rites for running the administration and gaining victory in war. From the study of these and other chapters on polity, it appears that the statesman of the Agnipurana is in favour of Imperial power to be vested in the Sovereign who is ambitious for world conquest. The ambitious monarch is asked to seek success from all quarters, especially from superpowers such as Kubjika, Camucda, Aghorã and Varadê, these being the various forms of goddess Sivà, the consort of Lord Siva.

From these topics, the Agnipurana proceeds to the description of Manvantaras (giving names of Manus, sages, and Indra for each cycle of Manu), Asramas (Stages of life), Samskaras (Purificatory rites) from birth to death (150-167) Ch. 168 to 174 relate to atonements for various offences and expiations for sins. Chs. 175 to 207 describe religious vows – obligatory and occasional some of which are not found in the Smrtigranthas. Chs. 208-213 dwell upon gifts and corporeal austerities (Vratas) of pious nature. Ch. 214 describes the system of veins in the body and their functions. Chs. 218 to 237 constitute the discourse of Puskara to Vaistha on the king’s coronation. Appointment of assistants and the code of their conduct fortification, kings duties policy, code of law, military expedition omens presaging victory or defeat in war six expedient rites preceding the march of the army and a hymn to Lakshmi for success. Chs. 238 to 242 include Rama’s discourse to Laksmana on the eve of battle in Lanka on the duties of the monarch six expedients and four ways of policy and a harangue on the king’s statesmanship.

From these topics, the Agnipurana proceeds to some miscellaneous topics such as the description of physiognomy of men and women royal fan, bow and sword (245) testing of gems (246) site for building (247) worship of Visnu (248) science of archery and the method of using a noose (249-251).

This wide range of subjects is most interesting and informative the treatment of each topic comprising one or more chapters is lucid and unitary in expression and thought.

 

Preface from the 3rd Part

The present volume contains the Agni Purana Part I (Chapters 1-100) in English Translation. This is the twenty-seventh Volume in the Series on Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology.

The project of the Series was envisaged and planned in 1970 by Lala Sundar Lal Jam of Messrs Motilal Banarsidass. Hitherto twenty-six volumes of the Series (comprising English translations of Siva, Linga, Bhagavata, Garuda, Narada, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas) have been published and released for sale.

The Agni Purana like most of the other Puranas is of an encyclopaedic character. Like the first two parts also contain topics of diverse nature as a glance through the contents will show. They include the art of settlement of civil disputes and criminal proceedings against offenders the use of Vedic hymns for accomplishing specific secular and religious purposes, observances for averting bad effects of portents and planets modes of worshipping various deities, description of the recessions of the Vedas merits accruing from making gifts of Puranas etc. several chapters are devoted to the description of Solar, Lunar and other royal dynasties. There is a lot of material of medical interest. In addition to human diseases and their treatment are also discussed and remedies are prescribed for their cure. Different kinds of snakes medical treatment for their bites the use of herbs and incantations to remove this poison are taken up at length. In brief, the reader will find a wide range of interesting and useful material therein.

It is our pleasant duty to put on record our sincere thanks to Dr. R.N. Dandekar and the UNESCO authorities for their kind encouragement and valuable help which render this work more useful than it would otherwise have been. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Gangadharana of the Sanskrit Department University of Madras for his lucid translation of the text. We also thank all those who have been helpful in our project.

 

Preface from the 4th Part

This thirtieth volume in the series on Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology forms the fourth and last part of the Agni Purana. It contains the English translation of chapters 312-383.

The project of this series was envisaged in 1970 by the late Lala Sundar Lal Jain of Messers Motilal Banarsidass. Thirty-six volumes of the series including the present one have so far been published and others are in progress. With the release of this volume complete sets of the translation of ten Mahapuranas, Viz, Agni Bhagavata, Brahma Brahmanda, Garuda, Kurma Linga, Narada, Siva and Varatha are now available to interested readers.

Two attractive and very useful features of this part of the Agni Purana are (1) a new Introduction supplementing the one added to Part I and giving additional information about the subject matter discussed in the various chapters of the Purana and its salient points and thus rendering superfluous any attempt to give a summary of the contents of the present Part here and (2) also a detailed Index covering all the four parts of the Purana.

It is our pleasant duty to put on record our sincere thanks to Dr. R.N. Dandekar and the UNESCO authorities for their kind encouragement and valuable help which render this work more useful than it would otherwise have been. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Gangadharana of the Sanskrit Department University of Madras for his lucid translation of the text. We also thank all those who have been helpful in our project.

 

CONTENTS

 

PART I

 
PREFACE vii
ABBREVIATIONS viii
INTRODUCTION xv
CHAPTERS  
1. Introductory 1
2. Manifestation of Visnu as Fish 3
3. Manifestation of Visnu as Tortoise 5
4. Manifestation of Visnu as Boar 7
5. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 9
6. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 11
7. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 15
8. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 17
9. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 19
10. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 21
11. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 24
12. Manifestation of Visnu as Rama 25
13. Origin of Kauravas and Pandavas 31
14. Story of the Mahabharata 34
15. Ascendance of Pandavas to heaven 36
16. Manifestation of Visnu as Buddha and Kalki 38
17. Creation 39
18. Genealogy of Svayambhuva Manu 41
19. Secondary Creation: the progeny of Kasyapa 45
20. Primary Creation 48
21. Method of worshipping Visnu and other gods 50
22. Bath prior to a religious rite 53
23. Mode of performing worship 54
24. Mode of constructing the sacrificial pit and the oblations unto fire 56
25. Mode of worshipping Vasudeva, Sankarsana Pradyumna and Aniruddha 62
26. Position of fingers in Worship 66
27. Initiation rite 67
28. Mode of anointment for the preceptor 74
29. Mode of Worshipping Hair in Sarvatobhadra 75
30. Mode of worshipping gods in lotus figures 79
31. Mode of cleansing oneself and others 82
32. Purifacotory rites 85
33. Investiture of the sacred thread for the deity and the installation of the deity 87
34. Mode of performing oblation 92
35. Mode of consecration of an image 96
36. Mode of performing the investiture of sacred thread 98
37. Mode of investiture of sacred thread for all gods 100
38. Benefits of constructing temples 101
39. Preparations of ground for constructing temples 106
40. Mode of making the respectful offering to the god 107
41. Mode of performing Consecration 110
42. Construction of a temple 113
43. Installation of deities in temples 116
44. Characteristics of the image of Vasudeva 118
45. Characteristics of pedestals and details relating to images 123
46. Characteristics of different Salagrama stones 124
47. Mode of worshipping Salagrama 126
48. Adoration of twenty four forms of Visnu 127
49. Characteristics of forms of Fish etc of Visnu 129
50. Characteristics of an image of the goddess 132
51. Characteristics of images of Sun and other planets 136
52. Characteristics of images of different forms of goddesses 138
53. Characteristics of Linga (parabolic representation of Siva) 139
54. The dimensions of different varieties of Linga 141
55. Characteristics of the pedestal 146
56. Five divisions of installation 147
57. Consecration of pitchers 149
58. Consecration of pitchers 152
59. Preliminary consecration of an image 155
60. Mode of installation of image of Vasudeva 161
61. Consecration of the door of the temple and the erection of banner 164
62. Mode of installation of image of Goddess Laksmi 169
63. Mode of installation of other gods and Goddesses, the Sudarsana disc and the writing of books and their installations 171
64. Mode of consecration of tanks and ponds 173
65. Building pavilions in front of temples 178
66. Mode of consecration of other gods 180
67. Renovation of decayed images 184
68. Mode of taking out a procession and celebration of festivals after fixing the new image 184
69. Mode of conducting the bathing festival 186
70. Mode of planting trees 188
71. Mode of Worshipping Ganesha 186
72. Mode of bathing and daily worship 190
73. Mode of Worshipping Sun 195
74. Mode of Worshipping Siva 197
75. Mode of installation of fire 205
76. Mode of worshipping Canda (attendant of Siva) 211
77. Mode of Worshipping Kapila 212
78. Mode of investiture of the sacred thread for the deity 215
79. Investiture of the Sacred thread 221
80. Mode of investiture with the fibres of amanaka 225
81. Mode of spiritual initiation 226
82. Mode of performing purificatory initiation 235
83. Mode of spiritual Initiation that removes one's bondage 238
84. Mode of Initiation for Emancipation 243
85. Mode of purifying the Beatific principle of establishment 248
86. Mode of purifying of Scriptural knowledge 252
87. Mode of purification of the principle of peace 254
88. Mode of initiation for attaining liberation 257
89. Initiation of principles 262
90. Anointing the disciple after worshipping Siva 263
91. Mantras for worshipping gods 265
92. Mode of installing the image of Siva 266
93. Mode of worshipping the presiding deity of a ground 272
94. Mode of placing the stone slabs 276
95. Mode of installation of Linga 278
96. Mode of initial consecration of an image 283
97. Mode of installation of lord Siva 294
98. Mode of installation of the image of goddess Gauri 302
99. Mode of installation of the image of sun-god 303
100. Rites of Consecration of doors of a temple 304
 

PART II

 
PREFACE vii
ABBREVIATIONS xv
101. Mode of consecration of a temple 307
102. Mode of consecrating the flag staff 308
103. Mode of repair of old or broken lingas 311
104. General characteristics of a divine edifice 313
105. Mode of worship of the presiding deity of a place 316
106. Vastu relating to Cities 320
107. The creation of Svayambhuva Manu 322
108. Cosmographical account 323
109. The greatness of sacred spots 326
110. The greatness of Ganga  328
111. The Greatness of Prayaga 329
112. The greatness of Varanasi 330
113. The greatness of Narmada 331
114. The greatness of Gaya 332
115. Mode of making a pilgrimage to Gaya 335
116. Mode of making a pilgrimage to Gaya 341
117. Mode of performing the ancestral rites 345
118. The Country of Bharata 350
119. Description of different continents 351
120. The extent of the universe 353
121. The Science of Jyotisa (Astronomy and Astrology) 356
122. Pancanga: The Almanae 364
123. Svarodaya cakra, Sanicakra, Kurmacakra, Rahucakra 370
124. Essence of astrology as described in the Victory in battles 372
125. Different circles which get success in battle 375
126. Combinations of good and bad asterisms 380
127. The auspicious and inauspicious periods of the day based on certain combinations 383
128. The Kotacakra - a drawing to forecast results 385
129. Guide-lines for storing and selling grains 386
130. Different spheres marked by astorisms indicating victory in battle 387
131. Ghataka cakra, Naracakra, Jayacakra indicating failure or success in battle 388
132. Sevacakra and the indication of accrual of benefits 390
133. Different traits in infants and combinations indicating success in battle 392
134. Sacred formula for the conquest of three worlds 396
135. Formula for success in battle 397
136. The diagram of asterisms indicating the period for undertaking a journey 400
137. The formula known as Mahamari 401
138. The six accessory acts relating to all mantras 403
139. The names of sixty years of Hindu cycle and the good or bad results accruing from them 404
140. Description of herbs used in charms 405
141. Description of herbs used in charms, medicines 407
142. Description of medicinal incantations 409
143. Mode of worship of Goddess Kubjika 411
144. Mode of worship of Goddess Kubjika 413
145. Different Kinds of mantras and the rites of locating them. 416
146. Names of different Goddesses 420
147. Mode of worshipping the goddess Tvarita and others 423
148. Mode of worship for success in the battle 425
149. Mode of performing Laksa and Kotihoma 425
150. Names of different Manus, different sages and others during their period. 427
151. Duties laid down for different castes 429
152. Duties of a householder 431
153. Duties of a student 434
154. Rules of marriage 436
155. The Code of Conduct 439
156. Purification of things 439
157. Pollution and Purification 440
158. Kinds of pollution 444
159. The merits of libation and the performance of good deeds. 450
160. Duties of a brahmin leading in the forest 452
161. Duties of an ascetic 452
162. Code of laws 455
163. Mode of performing a sraddha 457
164. Propitiatory rite for the planets 461
165. Code of conduct 463
166. Duties of different castes 465
167. Propitiatory rite for the planets 467
168. Kinds of major sins 471
169. Atonements for various offences 474
170. Expiations for association with major sinners 478
171. Description of certain subtle expiations 482
172. The hymn which destroys sins 483
173. Different expiations for different sins 485
174. Expiations for discontinuing the worship of gods 490
175. Rules and regulations relating to the Vows 492
176. Vows observed on the first lunar day 497
177. Vows observed on the second lunar day 498
178. Vows observed on the third lunar day 500
179. Vows observed on the fourth lunar day 503
180. Vows observed on the fifth lunar day 504
181. Vows observed on the sixth lunar day 504
182. Vows observed on the seventh lunar day 504
183. Vows observed on the eighth lunar day 505
184. Vows observed on the eighth lunar day 507
185. Vows observed on the ninth lunar day 509
186. Vows observed on the tenth lunar day 510
187. Vows observed on the eleventh lunar day 511
188. Vows observed on the twelfth lunar day 512
189. Rules of observing Sravanadvadasi vrata 513
190. Mode of practising vows on the thirteenth lunar day 514
191. Mode of practising vows on the thirteenth lunar day 515
192. Vows to be observed on the fourteenth lunar day 516
193. Description of Sivaratrivrata 517
194. Details relating to the vows of Asoka Purnima 518
195. Vows relating to the weak-days 519
196. Vows relating to different asterisms 520
197. Vows performed on certain days 522
198. Vows performed in different months 523
199. Vows relating to different seasons 524
200. Vow of giving a gift of a lamp 525
201. Mode of Worshipping Visnu in a figure of nine Compartments 527
202. Different flowers used in worship 528
203. The nature of hell 530
204. Mode of practising the vow of fasting for stipulated months 533
205. Mode of performing the Bhismapancakavrata 534
206. Mode of offering water of libation to the Venerable sage: Agastya 535
207. Mode of performing Kaumuda vrata 537
208. Rules and regulations relating to vows and gifts in genral 538
209. Rules relating to gifts 539
210. Sixteen great gifts 544
211. Different kinds of gifts 546
212. Gifts granting the desired fruits 552
213. Mode of making a gift of the earth and its benefits 555
214. The system of veins in the body and their benefits 556
215. Mode of reciting Gayatri and its greatness 559
216. Instructions relating to Gayatri 563
217. Vasistha's hymn to lord Siva 564
218. Mode of performing the Coronation of a king 566
219. sacred syllables for the coronation 569
220. Accomplishment of assistance of the king 573
221. Code of Conduct for the servants 575
222. Construction of forts 576
223. Duties of a king 579
224. Duties of a king in the harem 581
225. Duties of a King 584
226. Means of Conciliation 587
227. Code of Criminal laws 588
228. Instructions relating to military expedition 594
229. Significance of dreams 595
230. Inauspicious auguries 597
231. Good and bad auguries known from the sounds of animals and birds 598
232. Omens known from birds 600
233. Propitious periods for undertaking an expedition 604
234. Six expedients used by the King 606
235. Daily duties of a king 608
236. Rites preceding the march of a king 609
237. A hymn to Laksmi for success 615
238. Ethics narrated by Rama 617
239. Duties of a King 618
240. Six expedients used by a king 622
241. Four ways of policy: Conciliation etc. 624
242. Statesmanship for a king 629
243. Physiognomy of men and their indications 635
244. Characteristic features of women 637
245. Characteristics of the royal fan, bow and sword 638
246. Testing of gems 640
247. Characteristics of a Site for Building 642
248. Benefit of worshipping Lord Visnu with flowers and leaves 644
249. Science of archery 645
250. Science of archery 647
251. Method of using a noose 649
 

PART III

 
PREFACE vii
ABBREVIATIONS xiii
252. The mode of wielding the swords, maces etc. 651
253. The description of the administration of justice 653
254. Debts and their repayments 659
255. Description of rules relating to disputes and different kinds of ordeals 661
256. Description of the procedure for the division of properties 666
257. Settlement of disputes relating to the boundaries of fields 670
258. Punishment for making defamatory speeches and committing other offences 675
259. The application of the mantras of the Rgveda 683
260. The use of the hymns of Yajurveda 695
261. The use of the hymns of Samaveda 704
262. The use of the hymns of Atharvaveda 707
263. Appeasing rites for portents 710
264. Worship of gods to ward off the effects of portents and mode of offering the Vaisvadeva ball 713
265. The sacred bathing of the deities 716
266. The mode of performing the ceremonial bathing to wash off obstacles 718
267. Ceremonial bathing is known as Mahesvara and other kinds of ablutions 719
268. Mode of worshipping Indra, doing nirajana (relating to King's expedition) and other rites 722
269. The sacred formulas for the consecration of the umbrella and other royal insignia 725
270. A hymn to Visnu that destroys Evil 728
271. The different recensions of the Vedas 730
272. The meritoriousness of making gifts of the different Puranas 732
273. The description of the solar race 735
274. Description of the lunar race 738
275. Description of the dynasty of Yadu 740
276. The manifestations of the Lord Visnu 744
277. The narration of the lineage of Anga 747
278. The description of the lineage of Puru 748
279. The description of the potent remedies 751
280. The remedies for all the diseases 757
281. The description of the characteristics of the different tastes and the qualities of the herbs 761
282. Description of horticulture 764
283. The remedial herbs for all the diseases 766
284. Narration of sacred formulas that are medicinal 770
285. The accomplished recipes that would revive the dead. 772
286. Collection of medical recipes 778
287. The treatment of the diseases of elephants 781
288. The diseases of the horses and the management of the horses 784
289. The characteristics of the horses and the treatment of the diseases of the horses 789
290. Propitiatory rites for curing the ailments of horses 794
291. Propitiatory rites for curing the ailments of elephants 795
292. The greatness of cows and their welfare 798
293. Different kinds of mantras and their nomenclature 802
294. The characteristics of different kinds of serpents 807
295. The medical treatment for a serpent bite 811
296. The five constituents of the worship of Rudra 814
297. The remedial mantra that would remove poison 817
298. The treatment for the poison due to snakes such as the gonasa and others 818
299. Recipes for the diseases of infants 820
300. Description of the mantras which remove the baneful influences of planets 826
301. The mode of worship of Sun 830
302. Description of different kinds of potential mantras and herbs 832
303. The propitiation of the letters of one's limbs to ward off evil 835
304. The mode of worship of Siva with the mantra of five syllables 837
305. The fiftyfive names of (Lord) Visnu and their greatness 840
306. Description of the mantras to be repeated to ward off evil incantations etc. 843
307. Description of the mantras that would stupefy the three worlds 845
308. On the mode of worship of goddess Laksmi and others that confer immense benefits 849
309. The mode of worship of Tvarita 852
310. The narration of the spell relating to Tvarita 854
311. The location of the basic mantras of Tvarita and her worship 858
 

PART IV

 
PREFACE vii
ABBREVIATIONS xiii
INTRODUCTION xv
312. The occasions for the use of the Tvarita-mantra and the benefits 863
313. The mantras relating to the worship of different gods 865
314. Mantras relating to the worship of Goddess Tvarita 868
315. Narration of mantras relating to paralysing, captivating etc. 871
316. Narration of different kinds of mantras 872
317. The different kinds of mantras of Siva 873
318. The mode of worshipping Ganapati, accomplishing all things 876
319. Mode of worshipping Vagisvari (Goddess of speech) 878
320. The different mystic diagrams 879
321. The appeasing rites relating to Aghorastra 883
322. The appeasing rite employing the mantra of the weapon of Pasupati 885
323. The mantra of the weapons of Aghora and the six constituents 887
324. Appeasing rite for lord Siva 891
325. The benefits of wearing the rosary beads and the counting of the formulae with them 894
326. Description of the mode of worshipping Goddess Gauri for gaining enjoyment, emancipation etc. 896
327. The greatness of establishing a linga and worship with the accessories 899
328. The rules of prosody 901
329. An abridgement of rules of prosody relating to the Vedic metres 902
330. An abridgement of the rules of metres 902
331. Metres of different kinds 905
332. The metres of un-equal characteristics in the four quarters 908
333. Description of metres having equal characteristics in the alternate quarters 910
334. Description of metres having similar characteristics in the four quarters 911
335. The tabular representation of long and short vowels of different metres 915
336. Description of phonetics 915
337. Description of the characteristics of a kavya 918
338. Description of the different types of drama 921
339. Description of the santiments, emotions, hero etc. 923
340. Description of diction and mode 927
341. Description of the actions and movements of the limbs 928
342. Definition of dramatic representation 930
343. Definition of the embellishment of words 933
344. Description of the embellishment of sense 939
345. The embellishments of sound and sense 942
346. Investigation into poetic excellences 944
347. Investigation into poetic blemishes 946
348. List of mono-syllabic words 950
349. The pratyaharas and fundamental rules in grammar 953
350. The forms of completed euphonic combinations 954
351. Perfected forms of inflection in the nouns 957
352. Narration of the finished forms of the substantives in the feminine 966
353. The finished forms of substantives in the neuter 968
354. The relation between a noun and a verb in a sentence 970
355. Different kinds of compounds 973
356. The rules governing the formation of taddhita (secondary nominal bases) 976
357. The formation of the primary nominal bases by adding primary affixes known as unadi, beginning with affix u 980
358. The completed form of the verbs after adding the conjugational signs etc. 981
359. The finished forms after adding the krt affixes (Primary affixes added to verbs) 985
360. The synonyms of group of words denoting the celestial region and the nether world 986
361. The indeclinables 996
362. Words having many meanings 1001
363. The words denoting men and four classes of men 1005
364. Words denoting men and four classes of men 1013
365. Words relating to the class of brahmins 1017
366. Words relating to ksatriya, vaisyas and other classes 1018
367. The class of words dependent on the substantives 1024
368. Constant dissolution, occasional and total dissolution 1028
369. The description of absolute dissolution and the process of creation 1030
370. The constituent parts of a body 1034
371. The description of hells 1037
372. The major and minor religious observances (yama-s and niyama-s) 1041
373. Description of asanas (different physical postures) and control of breath 1044
374. Contemplation 1046
375. Fixing-up of the mind in the object of contemplation 1049
376. Deep meditation (samadhi) 1051
377. Knowledge of Brahman 1055
378. Knowledge of Brahman 1057
379. Knowledge of Brahman again 1059
380. Knowledge of non-dual Brahman 1062
381. The essence of the Bhagavadgita 1068
382. The Yamagita 1073
383. The glorification of the Agnipurana 1077
INDEX 1085

 

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