ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 6: Chandradeva helped formalisation of Naga-Manava co-existence in Kashmira (An Outline of Pancha Raatra Vrata Vidhi included)
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
When Prajapati Kashyapa provided the formula of co-exitence between Nagas and ‘Manavas’, Bhagavan Vishnu prophesied that after four yugas, Piscachas would get weakened. At the end of the stipulated time frame, the descendant of Kashypa named Chandradeva arrived at Kashmira but was harassed by a few piscachas all the same. He managed to escape from the troubles of Piscachas, reached the Palace of King Nila, met him and requested him to let human beings co-exist with Nagas for good, while the earlier stipulation was that Manavas would arrive at Kashmira only for six months on Chaitra Pournami and after the agricultural opertations collect grains and leave the place thereafter. The King of Nagas agreed to this proposal and allowed Manavas to live in Kashmira for ever; that was in line with Vishnu’s earlier prophesy / instruction. Formal understanding of King Nila and of King Virodaya was finally arrived at in the presence of Chandradeva that places of worship, residence, market places etc. would be constructed like Temples, Sacred Places, houses etc. for common use; within six months in Asviyuja month, the menace of Piscachas was got rid of too, as their Chief Nikumbha decided to leave Kashmira and shift to the Sea of Sand for ever.
To mark the historic occasion on Kartika Amavasya/ Dipaavali the entire Kashmira was spruced up, residences were painted, day-long fast was observed on the previous day till next day; morning pujas were performed to Ganesha, Rudra, Parvati, Skanda and Nandi besides Surya Deva; homams were performed to all these Deities; pujas were perfomed to cows, sheep and other domestic animals; and after day long worship and penance there were to be night-long festivities with men, women and children wearing new clothes, eating excellent vegetarian food and break out for musical extranvagaza and gay abandon through out the night. In fact every day in the fortnight till Purnima, there should be devotion during the day and physical joy and contentment for men and women in all possible ways in the night!
Raatrow deepascha daatavyomaasamekam bahugruhaat,
Yaavatkartikamaasasy Poushaamaaseem Dwijotthama/
Esha tu Kaumudi naama titthih kaaryaa Shivapradaa,
Tatah Pakshey vyatitotu kartavyaa Sukhashuptik/
(A night-long ‘Deepa’ should be lit to signify the Celebrations outside one’ own house for one month till the night of ‘Krittika’ month when intensive celebrations would be observed in the name of ‘Kaumudi’ or the Provider of Joy and thereafter in the second half of the month would be ‘Sukha Suptika’ or comfortable sleep).
As the pujas and festivities would go hand in hand for a few days, an Idol of Narayana in Yoga Nidra as ‘Seshashaayee’ (who lies on the cozy bed of Sesha the Huge Serpent with his hand underneath his head while his feet were on the laps of Devi Lakshmi) made out of silver, or stone or metal in an earlier month by installed on Ekadashi, the eleventh day of ‘shukla paksha’or the bright fortnight of Kartika month. There ought be a fast that day and night, and observe ‘Jaagarana’or night long wake-up with Kirtanas, Bhajans or vocal recitals, instrumental music recitals, Brahma ghoshas, Purana Shravanas, Pushpa-Dhupa-Naivedyas-all signifying the Superiority of ‘Bhagavan’:
Ekaadashaayaam tu kartavyam raathrow jaagaranam tathaa,
Geetai nritthaistathaa vaadyai Brahmaghoshaistathaiva cha/
Veenaapataha shabdaishcha Puraanaanamcha vaachanaih,
Pushpadhupa pradaanaischa naivedhairvividhaistatha/
On the next morning, the Idol should be given a holy wash as per Pancharaatra vidhi’ (or Five Night Puja) with ‘Panchagavyas’ or the Five bye-products of cows viz. milk, curd, butter, urine and dung, besides honey. At the time of bathing, the Image should be applied with pulses powders viz. ‘masura churnam’, ‘maasha churnam’; ‘amalakani’ fruit pulp, ‘Kaleyakam’, ‘tagaram’ powder,’ ‘Siddharthakam’ /white mustard powder, ‘bijapurakam’ / pulp of citrus fruit, medicinal herbs and scents, kusa grass, clay from river beds burrowed by ‘hasti danta’/ elephant tusk or ‘Vrishabha shringa’/ bull horn etc. After the formal ‘Abhisheka’/ bathing along with Veda Mantras, the Pratima is applied by yellow ‘gorochana’, is dressed up, decorated and ornamented.
Then the formal worship was performed with the various services including jaati pushpa flowers, dhupam, deepam in earthen pots and Naivedya of ‘Paramaanna’or cooked rice with boiled milk. Performance of ‘havans’ or oblations to Agni by ghee would be an integral part of the Pancharatha Puja, which would be followed by honouring ‘Bhagavatas’(Guests) and also Brahmanas attending the worship program by way of ‘Dhana’ and Dhanyas (Grains and cash), Vastra (clothing), Bhushana (gold and jewellery), ‘Pashu’ (cows), and ‘Vaahana’ (horses and elephants) and by way of ‘Bhojana’. On the following days of the Pancha Ratras, besides the performance of the usual pujas, there must be social gatherings like ‘Malla Yuddhas’ (wrestlings) and ‘Bhattadhis’or those who are professionals in praising the King and so on; during these the ‘Kartas’or the main devotees needed to observe abstinence of food or at the most exist by milk. On the Puraamasi they should have strict fasting and on sighting the moon, perform worship of Kritthikas, Kartikeya, Khadga, Varuna, Hutasana / Agni, with Pushpa malas, Gandha, Dhupa, Bhakshyas , Paramaannas, fruits, vegetables, sugarcane products etc.as also ‘deepas’/ earthen lamps. Then a white bull should be given away in charity to a Brahmana and the belief is that the devotee(s) concerned would accomplish Swarga for as many years as the number of hairs on the body of the bull. After the Puja of Vishnu at the end, the devotee might then have a glass of milk before concluding the Pancha Ratra Fast finally. The Kartas are advised to sleep on the ground and observe complete abstinence. If Danavas, Daityas, Yakshas and Rakshasas perform the Pancha Ratra Puja, they must observe refraining of meat-eating.
To mark the historic occasion on Kartika Amavasya/ Dipaavali the entire Kashmira was spruced up, residences were painted, day-long fast was observed on the previous day till next day; morning pujas were performed to Ganesha, Rudra, Parvati, Skanda and Nandi besides Surya Deva; homams were performed to all these Deities; pujas were perfomed to cows, sheep and other domestic animals; and after day long worship and penance there were to be night-long festivities with men, women and children wearing new clothes, eating excellent vegetarian food and break out for musical extranvagaza and gay abandon through out the night. In fact every day in the fortnight till Purnima, there should be devotion during the day and physical joy and contentment for men and women in all possible ways in the night!
Raatrow deepascha daatavyomaasamekam bahugruhaat,
Yaavatkartikamaasasy Poushaamaaseem Dwijotthama/
Esha tu Kaumudi naama titthih kaaryaa Shivapradaa,
Tatah Pakshey vyatitotu kartavyaa Sukhashuptik/
(A night-long ‘Deepa’ should be lit to signify the Celebrations outside one’ own house for one month till the night of ‘Krittika’ month when intensive celebrations would be observed in the name of ‘Kaumudi’ or the Provider of Joy and thereafter in the second half of the month would be ‘Sukha Suptika’ or comfortable sleep).
As the pujas and festivities would go hand in hand for a few days, an Idol of Narayana in Yoga Nidra as ‘Seshashaayee’ (who lies on the cozy bed of Sesha the Huge Serpent with his hand underneath his head while his feet were on the laps of Devi Lakshmi) made out of silver, or stone or metal in an earlier month by installed on Ekadashi, the eleventh day of ‘shukla paksha’or the bright fortnight of Kartika month. There ought be a fast that day and night, and observe ‘Jaagarana’or night long wake-up with Kirtanas, Bhajans or vocal recitals, instrumental music recitals, Brahma ghoshas, Purana Shravanas, Pushpa-Dhupa-Naivedyas-all signifying the Superiority of ‘Bhagavan’:
Ekaadashaayaam tu kartavyam raathrow jaagaranam tathaa,
Geetai nritthaistathaa vaadyai Brahmaghoshaistathaiva cha/
Veenaapataha shabdaishcha Puraanaanamcha vaachanaih,
Pushpadhupa pradaanaischa naivedhairvividhaistatha/
On the next morning, the Idol should be given a holy wash as per Pancharaatra vidhi’ (or Five Night Puja) with ‘Panchagavyas’ or the Five bye-products of cows viz. milk, curd, butter, urine and dung, besides honey. At the time of bathing, the Image should be applied with pulses powders viz. ‘masura churnam’, ‘maasha churnam’; ‘amalakani’ fruit pulp, ‘Kaleyakam’, ‘tagaram’ powder,’ ‘Siddharthakam’ /white mustard powder, ‘bijapurakam’ / pulp of citrus fruit, medicinal herbs and scents, kusa grass, clay from river beds burrowed by ‘hasti danta’/ elephant tusk or ‘Vrishabha shringa’/ bull horn etc. After the formal ‘Abhisheka’/ bathing along with Veda Mantras, the Pratima is applied by yellow ‘gorochana’, is dressed up, decorated and ornamented.
Then the formal worship was performed with the various services including jaati pushpa flowers, dhupam, deepam in earthen pots and Naivedya of ‘Paramaanna’or cooked rice with boiled milk. Performance of ‘havans’ or oblations to Agni by ghee would be an integral part of the Pancharatha Puja, which would be followed by honouring ‘Bhagavatas’(Guests) and also Brahmanas attending the worship program by way of ‘Dhana’ and Dhanyas (Grains and cash), Vastra (clothing), Bhushana (gold and jewellery), ‘Pashu’ (cows), and ‘Vaahana’ (horses and elephants) and by way of ‘Bhojana’. On the following days of the Pancha Ratras, besides the performance of the usual pujas, there must be social gatherings like ‘Malla Yuddhas’ (wrestlings) and ‘Bhattadhis’or those who are professionals in praising the King and so on; during these the ‘Kartas’or the main devotees needed to observe abstinence of food or at the most exist by milk. On the Puraamasi they should have strict fasting and on sighting the moon, perform worship of Kritthikas, Kartikeya, Khadga, Varuna, Hutasana / Agni, with Pushpa malas, Gandha, Dhupa, Bhakshyas , Paramaannas, fruits, vegetables, sugarcane products etc.as also ‘deepas’/ earthen lamps. Then a white bull should be given away in charity to a Brahmana and the belief is that the devotee(s) concerned would accomplish Swarga for as many years as the number of hairs on the body of the bull. After the Puja of Vishnu at the end, the devotee might then have a glass of milk before concluding the Pancha Ratra Fast finally. The Kartas are advised to sleep on the ground and observe complete abstinence. If Danavas, Daityas, Yakshas and Rakshasas perform the Pancha Ratra Puja, they must observe refraining of meat-eating.