Essay name: Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (Study)
Author:
Artatrana Sarangi
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages
This is a study in English of the Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (written by Lolla Lakshmidhara) representing an encyclopedic manual for emperors. The Samrajyalaksmipithika encompasses about 3870 verses in addressing topics such as public festivals, governance, warfare (military strategy), and rituals associated with the Tantric worship for the deity Samrajya-Lakshmi.
Chapter 2 - Rituals connected with Samrajya-lakshmi
85 (of 90)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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the giving away ceremony of idols of SL., ancillary deities,
subsidiary deities, etc. as a part of the performance of
the Grand Pacificatory Rite as per the formulae prescribed
in case of the Mahapuja (Great Worship) (19-26).
Gifts Proper :
Having thus announced, he gives away all the
idols to the preceptor and the priests the idol of goddess
SL first, with a prayer addressed to her - each gift
preceding the offering of water. Then follows munificent
donations to the preceptor and the priests in the form of
villages, horses, elephants in rut, chariots, servants,
maids, gems, gold, silver and thousands of cows whose horns
are capped with gold. Also, the king is described to
entertain a thousand brahmins with mrstanna (delicious
sweets). The grains of rice that are thrown by the priests
as a mark of blessing are carried by the king on his head
who, in turn, is honoured by the ladies of the royal
household in the form of waving candles before him. The
poor, the blind and the destitute are also satisfied by
huge donations of food-stuff, drinks, clothes and
niskas (gold coins).
Thus, when the Ritual is concluded, the king, returns
to his palace riding his elephant and is rendered happy
