Essay name: Studies in the Upapuranas
Author: R. C. Hazra
This book studies the Upapuranas: a vast category of (often Sanskrit) literature representing significant historical, religious, and cultural insights of the ancient Indian civilization. These texts provide rich information, especially on Hinduism covering theology, mythology, rituals, and dynastic genealogies.
Page 394 of: Studies in the Upapuranas
394 (of 598)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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THE SĀKTA UPAPURĀṆAS 375 with such teachers-verse 38; and so on), and (e) other
greater sinners-pÄpatarÄá¸�-who go to hell (such as those
who fight unfairly; the manufacturers of bows, arrows and
other weapons, as well as the dealers in these things-verse
53; those who do not support their wives, children and other
dependants with maintenance-verses 55-56; those twice-
born men who enjoy Sūdra women or smell wine inten-
tionally-verse 48; those kings who are bad rulers-verses
67-71; and so on).
Chap. 6.-The ways in which the donors of different
articles (such as shoes, umbrellas, clothes, bed, gardens,
temples, poor-houses, 30 lamps, asylums, medicine, land,
food etc.) proceed comfortably to the region of Yama and
thence to heaven. Praise of anna-dÄna (gift of food). The
paths by which the sinners go to Yama's residence. Des-
cription of hells as well as of the sufferings of the sinners
there.
Chaps. 7-126, 129-130, 132-140, 146-147 and 206.-
Praise of donations (dÄna) and vows (vrata) as the only
means of attaining happiness, power, peace and prosperity
and getting rid of the sufferings in hells. Description and
praise of various kinds of vratas which are to be observed on
different lunar days from Pratipad and in which various
deities, viz., BrahmÄ, Visṇu, Åšiva, DurgÄ, GaṇeÅ›a, Sarasvati,
KÄrttikeya, VinÄyaka and other gods and goddesses, are to
be worshipped. (These vratas have been arranged in the
Uttara-parvan in the order of the Tithis on which they are
to be observed). Description and praise of various kinds
of festivals, such as NÄ«rÄjana-dvÄdaśī (chap. 71), PhÄlguna-
pūrṇimotsava (chap. 132), Andolaka-mahotsava (chap. 133),
the Sun's Ratha-yÄtrÄ (chap. 134), Madana-mahotsava
(chap. 135), BhÅ«tamÄtrutsava (chap. 136), MahÄnavami
(chap. 138), Mahendra-dhvaja-mahotsava (chap. 139), and
DÄ«pÄlikÄ (chap. 140). Methods and praise of various kinds
Bhav. IV. 6. 10�
devÄyatana-kartÄ ca yatinÄm ÄÅ›ramasya ca /
anÄtha-maṇá¸apÄnÄá¹� ca krÄ«á¸an yÄti gá¹›hottamaiá¸� //
