Halaṣaṣṭivratakathā, 1840; हलषष्टिव्रतकथा,१८४०

Date:

1840

Description:

Text describes a set of rites (the halaṣaṣṭi) dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Balrāma, the elder brother of the deity Kṛṣṇa, observed on the sixth day dark phase of moon during the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). Balarāma is especially known as the deity holding a plow (hala) from which the text receives its name. Rites prescribed include the performance of breath exercises, fasting, paying obeyances to other deities such as Śiva and Umā, and bathing for the purpose of prosperity and offspring. Especially important for unmarried or newly married women.

Language:

Sanskrit

Subject:

Bathing customs; Fasting; Balarāma (Hindu deity); Śiva (Hindu deity); Siva (Hindu deity); Fasting -- India; Hindu women -- Religious life; Vratas; Rites and ceremonies -- India; Rites and ceremonies; Devotional literature, Sanskrit; Bathing customs -- India; Puja (Hinduism); Manners and customs

Resource Type:

Text

Form/Genre:

poems; prayers (compositions); Manuscripts, Sanskrit; Manuscripts; manuscripts (documents)

Physical Description:

1 item (4 leaves) : paper; 11 x 25 cm

Geographic Subject:

India; India -- Social life and customs

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

Title from colophon (f. 4r); alternate title Halaṣṭīvratapūjākathā from colophon.; Written in 12-14 lines per leaf.; 4 leaves foliated 1-4, upper left and lower right verso.; Colophon: iti śrībrahmā[ṃ]ḍapurāṇe hala[ṣa]ṣṭivratakathāsamāptaḥ // saṃvat 1897 śāke 1762 vīrodhīnāmakṛtatasaṃvatsare āśvīnaśuk[la]paṃcamībadhavārilakṣamaṇamadhumatyeyācīpothīlīkhītaṃ // halaṣṭīvratapūjākathāsaṃpūrṇaṃ // umāmaheśvaraprasannostu // (f. 4r).; Dated saṃvat 1897 and śaka 1762 (1840) (f. 4r).; Mistakes blacked out.; Non-Latin script record.; In Sanskrit (Devanāgarī)

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Coll. 390 Item 2802

Collection:

Collection of Indic Manuscripts