Essay name: Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures (seven volumes)
Author:
Satya Vrat Shastri
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The series called "Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures" represents a comprehensive seven-volume compendium of Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri's research on Sanskrit and Indology. They feature a wide range of studies across major disciplines in these fields, showcasing Shastri's pioneering work. They include detailed analyses like the linguistic appraisal of Yogavasishtha, etymological studies in the Mahabharata and the Devibhagavata-purana, as well as explorations of human values as defined in ancient texts.
Volume 6 - South East Asian studies
24 (of 282)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
CC-0. Prof. Satya Vrat Shastri Collection, New Delhi. Digitized by S3 Foundation USA.
18
South East Asian Studies
Tamil Tirupp膩vai, Brahmins believe that when I艣vara had left,
N膩r膩ya峁嘺 came along. It was His turn now to receive worship.
On the 6th of Magha Brahmins gather at the N膩r膩ya峁嘺 temple
and offer worship to the deity. In the earlier period the R膩jaguru
in the course of the ceremony used to recite the Veda. The
ceremony would conclude at the Vighne艣vara temple.
The current mode of the ceremony is that on Magha 5
evening nine monks start the worship of the Buddha. They
continue with it even the following day. As they finish it, the
Brahmins begin the tonsure of the young ones with their own
hands. This is only symbolic. They just cut a few hair. The rest
of them the barber shaves off.
2. The Ploughing Rite
It is performed every year in the month of Vai艣膩kha, the
period between mid-April and mid-May. A definite date for this
is decided every year by the R膩jaguru with reference to the
Almanac. The start to it is given by the Buddhist monks in front
of the idol of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaeo. The
following day from 3 A.M. the Brahmin ceremony begins.
Obeisance is first offered to Gauri, Dharani (the earth) and Gang膩
(the river Ganges). After that some quantity each of the different
types of foodgrains is put together and is sprinkled with water.
Interestingly enough, this part of the rite has a typically Sanskritic
name Seka even in Thai. Next, at the auspicious moment the
Brahmins carry the besprinkled foodgrains to the sprawling lawns
of Sanam Luang near Wat Phra Kaeo (the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha). At the appointed hour arrives there the king. For taking
active part in the ceremony he deputes a dignitary as his nominee
called Phaja Raikna in Thai. The nominee begins the ceremony
with the worship of the bulls, the plough and the earth. He is duly
helped in this by the R膩jaguru. He then holds the ploughshare in
his hand and moves forward. Ahead of him move the Brahmins.
A few maids carrying some auspicious objects follow him. After
the lawns have been ploughed the bulls are taken to a place where
the following seven things are kept for them: wine, grass, black
