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 402 of: Studies in the Upapuranas
402 (of 598)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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THE S膧KTA UPAPUR膧峁咥S 383 one is that of Bh奴ta-m膩t膩 (鈥榤other of evil spirits', also called
Bhr膩t峁�-bh膩峁囜笉膩) who is said to have originated from P膩rvati's
urine. The image of Bh奴ta-m膩t膩, who had a very ugly and
hideous look 50 and was believed to be a form of Bhagavati
herself, was to be worshipped under an old tree, in order
that no trouble could be caused to children by evil spirits.
While taking the image to the tree, people were to make
various interesting demonstrations such as those of taking
a murderer to the place of execution for impaling him, and
of a cruel Sabara with jet-black complexion and blood-shot
eyes. This Bh奴ta-m膩trutsava, which must have had a
popular origin, was to be observed in every town and village,
and during this festival people were to behave like wild men,
sing, laugh and dance at random, distort their faces and
cover their bodies with mud. The N墨r膩jana-dv膩da艣墨 (chap.
71) was a festival to be observed by kings. The Mah膩-
navami-vrata (or Durgotsava-chap. 138) was to be per-
formed in every house, especially in royal palaces. Even the
Mlecchas and others are said to have celebrated it. During
this festival the worshipper was to pass the night, on the
A峁ａ弓ami Tithi, by hearing songs and seeing dances and
theatrical performances. On the Navami Tithi he was to
worship the virgin Vindhyav膩sini with the offer of 100,
50 or 25 buffaloes and sheep and of pitchers full of wine.
After the worship had been over, the image was to be taken
out in a procession in which the king himself and his army
were to take part. The Mahendra-dhvaja-mahotsava (chap.
139) also was a state festival, in which all people took part.
This festival was to be observed for nine or seven days, and
during it people were to amuse themselves by witnessing
dramatic performances, wrestling competitions, etc. and by
"For description of this Bh奴ta-m膩t膩 see Bhav. IV. 136.10-14鈥�
.n膩r墨 nird膩ritodar膩 /
k峁涐梗峁嚹� kar膩la-vadan膩 pi峁僩膩k峁Ｄ� mukta-m奴rdhaj膩 /,
kap膩la-m膩l膩bhara峁嚹� baddha-pindordhva-pi峁囜笉ak膩 /
kha峁璿膩nga-kank膩ladhar膩 mudr膩艅kita-kar膩 艣iv膩 //
vy膩ghra-carm膩mbara-dhar膩 ra峁嘺t-kinki峁噄-mekhal膩 /
dama岣�-dama岣�-岣峚maruk膩 ph奴tk膩r膩p奴rit膩mbar膩 // etc. etc.
31 For description of these demonstrations see Bhav. IV. 136. 26f.
