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
103 (of 262)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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like Vayu (77.1.17) Kurma (2.37.49-50) Sankha (8.14) etc.
go to the extent of declaring that "sacred are all the
streams of water and so are the hills and mounts, a conglomerate
of stones, all rivers are said to be sanctified and specially
so the Jahnavi, through out her course",
Preparations for pilgrimage :
Keeping in line with such a profound tradition, SLP
also prescribes pilgrimage for the king. Such an act, SLP
continues, should be undertaken by the king, as it washes away
all sins (sarva-papapra samana) and brings about fulfilment
of one's desires (sarvabhIstaphalaprada). A king, who
has planned out such a journey is required to follow a
special code of conduct which runs as follows:
In the early morning of the day previous to his day
chores
of actual starting, he should, after his daily
(nitvakarma), worship Ksetrapala and vighnesa (lord of
obstacles) which is to be preceded by Svasti and
Punyahavacana in the company of a priest. Next, he entertains
the brahmins at a feast and then partakes of his food which
is free from alkali and salt (aksaralavanam ). After taking
the prescribed diet or one according to his own taste, he r
retires for the night (125.3-6).
Leaving bed in early morning on the next day, he is
required to pray to his tutelary deity. The real journey
