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
147 (of 262)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
290
'Salutations to thou 0 Varalaksmi, thou bestow
boon on all. Do grant me empire, wealth and a
continuous line of progeny'.
Now, the king is described to sit near the goddess with an
intention to partake of the havisya (sacrificial food)
(11-16).
Merits :
The author claims that such a performance enables
the king to destroy the enemy with ease in war and facilitates
his rule on this earth. We are further informed that this
yrata is the best of the vratas and is observed by the
kings and ladies of the harem as well. Our author, in
support of his contention draws an eulogy by narrating the
ancient story of Carumati who with her husband's permission,
had performed this vrata and had attained enormous wealth,
children, grand-children and all articles of enjoyment.
Observation :
We have seen that our author describes this vratas
as 'the royal among the vratas' (uttamottama). Yet, it is
surprising to note that it does not seem to enjoy the
popularity it claims. Most of the digest writers do not
mention it. Kane
Kane
in his HDS (Vol. V. Part I) includes
this in his List of Vratas but the source quoted is SLP
