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If sufficiently rich, a dvija (brahmana, kshatriya and vaishya) should perform according to his means, the shraddha ie. Mahalaya in honour of his departed parents as well as their kinsmen and others, in the dark half of bhadrapada. (19)   

If sufficiently rich, a dvija (brahmana, kshatriya and vaishya) should perform according to his means, the shraddha ie. Mahalaya in honour of his departed parents as well as their kinsmen and others, in the dark half of bhadrapada. (19)   

He should also perform their shraddha at the time of the summer and winter solstices (ayanas), and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes (vishuva), during the division of time called Vyatipata; on the day when a tithi ie. lunar day begins and ends between two sun-rises (technically known as dinakshaya); during the lunar and solar eclipses; on the 12th lunar day, and when the constellations known as Shravana, Dhanishtha and Shata-taraka are on the ascendance; on the 3rd day in the bright half of Vaishakha (ie. on Akshaya tritiya); on the 9th lunar day in the bright half of Karttika (known as Akshaya navami); on the four Ashtakas (8th lunar day in the dark halves) during the seasons called Hemanta and Shishira (ie. on the 8th day in the dark half of the months of Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha and Phalguna); on the 7th day in the bright half of the month of Magha; on the full moon day when the constellation Magha is ascendant (which is in the month of Magha) on days when the constellation associated with the names of other (lunar) months are ascendant on a full moon day, or even when the moon rises one digit less than  the full on that day; on any 12th lunar day when the constellations Anuradha, Shravana and the three constellations beginning with the word Uttara (viz. Uttarashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada and Uttara Phalguni) are ascendant; or when the 11th lunar day (of any month) is associated with (any of) these three constellations; (and lastly) on any day when the constellation under which a person was born or the constellation called Shravana is ascendant. (20-23)   

The text further enumerates a few other occassions when one should perform shraddha. Since they are particularly considered as very auspicious times conducive to the attainment of prosperity to men. It is said that the performance of ablutions, muttering prayer or mantra (Japa), oblations to fire, observance of a sacred vow, worship of deities and brahmanas and gifts donated in the names of pitrs, deities, men and creatures on these specific days, bear everlasting fruit. (25)   

The text also enlists Punya Kshetras and mentions that one who is desirous of blessings, should constantly sojourn at these sacred-most spots where the idols of Hari are installed. For, righteous duties performed here yield fruits thousand times more than what accrues at other places. (33)   

 

 

 

Punya Kshetras

 

All the places where the image of Hari or Saligrama is found (or wherever the worship of Lord Hari is being done) that place is the abode of blessings; and the regions through which rivers like the Ganga and others celebrated in Puranas flow. (29) 

 

And lakes like Pushkara and others are situated; and places inhabited by venerable sages and spots known as Kurukshetra, Gaya, Prayaga (the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna) the hermitage of Pulaha known as Shalagrama kshetra. (30) 

 

Forest like Naimisha (modern Nimsar) Kanyatirtha (Cape Comerin), the holy bridge built by Rama at Rameshvara, Prabhasa and Dvaraka, Varanasi, Mathura, the lake Pampa and Bindusara where stood the hermitage of Kardama the father of Kapila. (31) 

 

 

Those are the sacred-most spots where the idols of Hari are installed. He who is desirous of blessings, should constantly sojourn at these places. Righteous duties performed here yield fruits thousand times more than what accrues at other places. (33)   

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Dharmas]]

[[Category:Dharmas]]

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