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 3 - General Ritual mentioned in Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika
72 (of 262)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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seated on the Pitha while facing east by the preceptor and
the performing priests, other priests keep on chanting
the formula 'Brhatsama ... TS.(4.4.12.2). A gold-
ribbon (pratisara) is now tied to the (wrist of the)
king by the priest-in-chief who then keeps chanting
the formula 'Asmanasteio ..ATS (3.8.9). To his both
eyes, now they (priests) apply collyrium and decorate
him further with perfumes, garlands and ornaments. All
this is done by the priests while thinking (taking) the
king to be Indra. Now, the chief priest holds a jar
full of curd and in the company of the priests, while
chanting the formula 'dadhikravak (RV 4.39.6), sprinkles
the curd, in circles, on king's head from a white
Daksinavarta conch (a conch having its opening (mouth)
towards the right). Such a sprinkling of curd is meant
for endowing the king with great fame (uruvasas) (4-8).
Having uttered the words from AB (1.14)
practisthatvadadhati---etc. the preceptor places the
pedestal to the south of the altar and the king is seated
F.. con td from previous page ..
Such a rite is attributed with much significance like
'an unabridged representation of the unending cyclical
process of decay and regeneration' etc. See AIRC,
R
p. 223. J. Gonda " SKT. Utsava, Festival", presupposes
that alasuva originally may have been a regularly
repeated ... rite undergone by kings.
