Chapter 37 - The mode of gifting the golden cow along with gingelly seeds

Sanatkumāra said:

1. Henceforth, I shall recount the mode of performing the rite of Tiladhenu Dāna. The devotee shall perform the worship of Śiva in the west of the Maṇḍapa mentioned before.

2. In front of it, in the middle of the ground he shall draw the diagram of a splendid lotus. The excellent gold lotus shall be wrapped in cloth and placed in its middle.

3-6. He shall cause the gingelly flower to be made and put the gold lotus therein. It shall be made with thirty, fifteen, or seven and a half, or five, or two and a half, or one and a quarter gold coins. After worshipping the deity^[1] by means of scents, fragrant flowers and the like in accordance with the injunctions he shall cause eleven brahmins to sit in the northern quarter of the lotus. They shall be duly worshipped with scents and fragrant flowers in accordance with the injunctions. He shall then give the brahmins clothes to wear and upper cloth to cover themselves. A turban as well as a pair of ear-rings to embellish themselves should also be given to each.

7-9. The devotee shall give a gold ring to the brahmins duly. He shall then spread eleven pieces of cloth in front of them. Gingelly seeds and other articles shall be placed on those cloths separately. A bell-metal vessel of hundred Palas shall be split into eleven parts and given to the brahmins along with a sugarcane tree stump. The devotee shall cause the horns of the cow to be made in gold with two gold coins.

10. The hoofs shall be made of silver costing two gold coins. After giving all these severally the devotee Shall place them amongst the gingelly seeds.

11-12. He shall repeat the eleven Rudra mantras and offer these to Rudras.

In the eastern side of the lotus he shall seat twelve brahmins and worship them. In the same manner as before he shall perform all the rites, repeat the twelve Aditya mantras and offer the materials to them.

13. As before, he shall seat sixteen brahmins on the southern side of the lotus. The idol shall be dedicated as before by means of Vighneśa mantras.

14-16. All these rites shall be performed in due order by the sacrificer. It is enough if he makes over the gifts unto the Rudras or the Ādityas. The idols etc. shall be given in accordance with the extent of one’s wealth. The king shall perform the rites of offering Pādya etc. as well. Dakṣiṇā shall be offered in the form of an ornament costing five gold coins.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

taṃ—hema-padma-vigraham ST. that idol of golden lotus.