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
233 (of 262)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
377
Dipaval being a very ancient festival has
come to associate itself with various customs and unlike
other utsavas, is not celebrated in honour of any
particular god or goddess but its speciality lies in
126 Both P.K.Gode and P.V.Kane
its composite nature.
enlist vast material on this festival from Mbh., Puranas
and digest works.
Gode in hisielearned article is found to record
this as a national festival (desasya mahimasrave) while
Op. cit.
quoting varahapurana. (p.241). At another place
(P.242) he mentions a royal procession to inspect
illumination from Bhavi峁ottara purana.
The author of SLP however, in his treatment of
DIpavali neither neveals such a dimension of celebrations
to warrant it a national character nor do we find any
reference to a royal procession undertaken by our king
to inspect the illumination.
However, in the description of SLP, we observe
a kinness to the celebrations of Diwall of recent times.
126.
1 Cf. Kane, HDS Vol. 5.2,p195 who mentions as
many as five elements which are said to form parts
of Dipavali celebrations like Narakapuja,
Laksmipuja, Balipuja, Gambling and the love and
affection between brother and sisters.
