Devala-smriti (critical study)
by Mukund Lalji Wadekar | 1982 | 67,394 words
This essay represents an English study of the Devala-smriti—an ancient text attributed to sage Devala classified as belonging to the Dharma-Shastra branch of Indian literature which encompasses jurisprudence and religious law. This study deals with the reconstructed text of the Devalasmriti based on surviving references, emphasizing Devala’s unique...
12.1. The auspicious period on various Sankrantis
[Full title: (F) The distinctive ritualistic features; (III) Periodical rites and customs; (1) The auspicious period on various Sankrantis].
Certain practices of bath, giving gifts etc. are to be observed, when the sun passes from one rasi to another but the exact time of the sun's transit is so minute that it is difficult to be known by the ordinary maked eyes (819). Hence several alternatives are suggested about the time of observance of religious activities on that day. 1) The most general rule is that the whole day is auspicious, when the sankramana is during daytime, while only the half of the day is auspicious, when it is during night-time. (825). 2) Another general rule is that it is 30 ghatikas (12 hours) before and after the time of sanranti (819). � 3) The 30 ghatikas on karka, 20 ghatikas after sankramana for moara, 10 ghatikas before and after the time of transit on mesa & tula sankrantis, 60 ghatikas after the transit in case of Sadasiti i + ! i.e. mithuna, kanya, dhanu, & mina sankrantis & 16 ghatikas
kaise 1 753 before & after the sankramana for visnupada (i.e.simha, vrscika, kumbha, & vrsabha Sankrantis (823 & 824). TABLE NO. 4 The following is a table showing the auspicious time on each Sankranti, according to Devala. It is also compared with the information, supplied by the Dharmasindhu (p.2). Devala + Ghatikah Purvah Parah 1. Mesa 10 10 2. Vrsabha 16 16 3. Mithuna 60 4. Karka Dharmasindhu Ghatikah Purvah Parah 15 or 10 16 15 or 10 16 30 (purva or para not clear) 30 1 5. Simha 16 16 16 6. Kanya 60 16. 7. Tula 10 10 15 or 10 15 or 10 8. Vrscika 16 16 16 9. Dhanu 60 16 10. Makara 20 40 11. Kumbha 16 16 16 12. Mina 60 16
760 @4) The most auspicious time is the nadis or ghatikas that are nearest to the time of sankranti (822). Mm. P.V.Kane is of the opinion that "in any case the observances & festival of makarasankranti do not appear to be much older than the beginning of the christian era" 26. The observances relating to each sankranti, were prevalent at least during the period of the present porition of text, in which the auspicious time on each sankranti is laid down.