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King's honouring of brahmins etc : The day earmarked for such celebrations is the Asvina 14 th of the balck-fortnight of the month of Sig. On that day, the king leaves his bed on the Brahmamuhurta

370 and having accomplished his daily morning chores, honours a number of invited brahmins in the company of their wives by offering perfumes and flowers, betel and fruits. He is stated to receive from them the benedictory grains of whole rice (asIrak sata) in both of his palms, held together and later, puts those on his head. Then, he gives them perfumed-oil for sacred bath, bows and after devotedly going round them, sends them off. After sitting for an a while on the throne while facing east, he, in outside-apartment, receives an oil massage from a young lady and is bathed in tepid water by the wrestlers. The bath over, he puts on precious garments whose borders are interlaced with gold, wears upward Pundra-marks on his forehead and for some time, worships his tutelary deity as per rules (112.3-12). Special gift of candles : On this occasion the king is stated to make a special gift of three candles to brahmins with suitable donations. This act of the king is said to keep at bay, poverty and penury. In turn, the brahmins also adore the king by waving candles before him (13).

371 Attendance at the royal assembly : Now, while holding a sword, helmet and other ornaments, he proceeds to the Assembly Hall (asthanakuta) in the company of members of the royal family and appears in full regalia, before all those assembled, kings, ministers, priests, learned men and poets. He acknowledges the reverence shown to him by the members by greeting them back in various ways. To some by wave of his hand, to others, with a smile, to some others, by nod of head, still to some others, by mere look, exchange of pleasant words and raising of stick at his hand. Other important business which takes place in the assembly is mentioned to be king's receiving of presents like clothes, etc. brought by vassel kings and other dignitaries and distributing gifts like clothes, perfume, saffron, musk and betels, in return (14-22). The noon is spent by the king in the company of ladies of the harem while his evening engagements constitute of witnessing the display of fire-works at night-fall and a dramatic performance, presented by the royal artists (23-28). Before his retiring for the night in the company of a queen in the inner apartments, he is described to receive a betel lead from her which is curled and contracted (akuncita). Thus comes to an end the celebrations on

372 Narakacaturdas I (29-31). Observation : It is seen that the treatment meted out to Naraka-caturdasi celebrations at the hand of our author is of very general nature. The paucity of reference to killing of the demon Naraka by Visnu appears to lead us to the conclusion that the original significance of this day, by the time of our author, is clearly forgotten. However, the mention of scented-oil-bath, giving away of candles, etc. are attested by medieval digest works like Nirnayasindhu (p.197), Purusarthacintamani (p.241) and Dharmasindhu (p.104) etc.