Essay name: Devala-smriti (critical study)
Author:
Mukund Lalji Wadekar
Affiliation: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda / Department of Sanskrit Pali and Prakrit
This essay represents an English study of the Devala-smriti鈥攁n 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 Devala-smriti based on surviving references, emphasizing Devala鈥檚 unique viewpoints on social, religious, and philosophical aspects, particularly the Sankhya and Yoga philosophies.
Chapter 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti
80 (of 165)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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The Usanas smrti quoted in the S.C. (I.p.121) mentions similar
method for the purification of a woman, in her course, but there
9 the woman that touches, the sick lady, has not to change 路 her clothes
for ten times, as mentioned by Devala. Similarly, Yama
(53),
mentions that the other healthy person has to take bath & touch
the sick person for ten times for purification of the sick, but
he also like Usanas does not mention wearing of new clothes at
each time after bath. Yama's prescription is for the purification
of a sick person. The Brhatparasara smrti (8/305) also prescribes
a rule like Yama for the purification of a
-
10 sick person.
4)
WEARING OF GARMENTS :
Some rules about wearing of garments, mentioned in the text
are noteworthy.
(1) A healthy person should not rinse his limbs, with a scarf
or hand, because the water of the head, face, chest & the lower part
is drunk by the Gods, Manes, Gandharvas & all creatures respectively.
An alternative rule is prescribed that one should at least rinse
the body with an already washed garment & wear two dry garments
(575 & 576).
(2) The religious activity should be performed by the wise,
with a garment, washed by himself. It should never be performed
by a garment, that is new (unwashed) or is washed by a washerman.
This shows that, for the religious purposes, one has to wash his
own garments. The garments, washed by a washerman are not allowed.
:
