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[Full title: Royal Ceremonies (3) The Worship of Night]

It is but natural that the fear of devils, demons, goblins and even of the enemies be felt more acutely at night. Hence Ratri (Night) is implored for protection. Four hymns in the Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension 37 are dedicated to Night. In the Parisistas, two ceremonies, which aim at securing safe nights for the king, are described. They are Pistaratryah Kalpah (Atharvaveda-Parisistas 6) and Aratrikam (Atharvaveda-Parisistas 7). The Pristaratryah Kalpah consists of the worship of the image of Night made of flour. The Purohita prepares a clean spot to the east of the bed-stead by besmearing the 38 spot with cow-dung. He invokes the Night with the mantra: yam devah pratinandanti the mantras: mamobha 39 40 Touching the image he recites and mahyam apah ..41. The image is so placed on the clean spot asto face towards the north and is worshipped by offering golden parasol and seat, white garments and unguents, white food and modakas. Garlands and (37) XIX.47-50. (38) The reason for besmearing a place with cow-dung is given in Gobhila Grhya Parisista 1.60 as follows: jindrena vajrabhihatah pura ko mahasurah| bhedasa tasya samhinna tadarthamupalabhyate || (39) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension III.10.2. (40) Kausika Sutra 133.3. (41) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension Vedic Index 61.1.

382 incense too are offered and four lamps are kindled. The Ratri, who is a goddess wearing a necklace of stars as well as planets and who, like a kind mother, puts all the creatures to sleep, is prayed to for the sake of peace and protection (Cf. Rgveda Khila 26.3-4). isira yosa 43 a The mantras: a ratri parthivam ..42 The mantras: 44 and a ma puste ca pose ca .. are to be recited in this connection. The lamps are waved over the head of the king three times with the mantras: yo 'smin 46 47 ..., trayamane visvajite yas tva matuh 45 _48 and ahne ca tva.. Then an offering of mustard seeds is made on the fire 49 with the five verses beginning with yo nah svah more mustard seeds are consecrated with the raksoghna Some 50 mantras and are scattered round the bed of the king with the mantra: avatas te ..51. Incese is burnt and its ashes 52 are taken with the mantras: yas te gandhah ... ... , and applied to king with tryayusam (42) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension XIX.47.1. (43) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension XIX.49.1. 53 Four gravels are thrown in the (44) Not found in any samhita. Atharvaveda, Paippalada recension I.103.3 reads: a ma pustim ca posyam ca ... (45) Atharvaveda, Paippalada recension II.24.1. (46) Atharvaveda, Paippalada recension XIX.26.13. (47) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension Vedic Index 107.2. (48) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension VIII.2.20. (49) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension 1.19.3. (50) [Rgveda IV.4;Vajasaneya Samhita XIII.9;Taittiriya Samhita I.2.14; Maitrayani Samhita II.7; Kathaka Samhita X.5; Cf. Apss 7.13.4] (51) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension V.30.1. (52) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension XII.1.23-25. (53) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension V.28.7. Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension VIII.3-4.

383 four quarters with the mantras: abhayam 54 55 and asapatnam.. In every corner an image is placed having one or two faces; or only one image having four faces is kept in the centre. The image of the Night made of flour is left at the door of the palace and the king is taken to the bed-chamber 56 with the mantra: santa dyauh Thus protection at night is secured for the king. It is stated that this ceremony is to be performed everyday. The other Parisista, which is called Aratrika begins with a legend. Indra, who could not get sleep due to the wiles of the demons, approached Brhaspati Atharvan. The latter performed this simpler rite which destroyed all trifle disturbances at night. In this rite a lamp of flour with a good wick and oil is prepared and kindled with the mantras: 57 ati nihah Flowers, mustard, coloured and pranyan 58 rice, herbs like priyangu, satapuspa, durva and satavari are to put into a pot and that pot is filled with water. The 59 lamp is consecrated with the mantra: preto yantu... and 60 ekasatam ... and is waved thrice over the head of the king. While this is being done, the Purohita recites auspicious (54) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension Vedic Index 40.1 (55) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension XIX.16.1. (56) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension XIX.9.1. (57) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension II.6.5. (58) Aitareya Brahmana VII.35.1. (59) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension VII.114.2. (60) Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension III.9.6 (v.18.12).

384 mantras and wishes welfare to the king and the dominion, the Brahmanas and the cows. Then a conch is sounded, the lamp is taken away and a stream of water is poured out by the priest or by the astrologer or by a well-wishing, obliged nurse. Then the king sips water and goes to sleep. In the morning the king offers gold according to his capacity to the Brahmanas. This ceremony is said to remove the evil effects of black magic practiced with the help of roots etc. and to bring all happiness if performed every night.