88. PROPITIATION OF PLANETS FOR BIRTHS DURING AMAVASYA

मैत्रेय ! दर्शजातानां मातापित्रोर्दरिद्रता ।
तद्दोषपरिहाराय शान्तिं कुर्याद् विचक्षणः ॥ १ ॥

कलशस्थापनं कृत्वा प्रथमं विधिपूर्वकम् ।
उदुम्बर- वटा - अश्वत्य - चूतानां पल्लवस्तथा ॥ २ ॥

स- निम्बानां च मूलानि त्वचस्तत्र विनिक्षिपेत् ।
पंचरत्नानि निक्षिप्य वस्त्रयुग्मेन वेष्टयेत् ॥ ३ ॥

1-3: Maharishi Parasara said - O Maitreya ! The birth of a child on Amavasya causes poverty for both the parents. The learned persons should undertake propitiatory measures for the alleviation of such affliction (दोष).

To begin with, install a Kalasha (कलश) - a metal pitcher and put Goolar (गूलर) a wild fig, leaves of Banyan (बढ़), Pipal (पीपल), mango and margo (नीम) trees and five gems (पर्चरत्न), and have its mouth covered with a cloth.

'र्स्वे समुद्र' इति चाऽऽपोहिष्ठादित्र्यृचेन च ।
आमन्त्र्य कलशे तच्च स्थापयेद् वहिकोणके ॥ ४ ॥

दर्शस्य देवयोश्चाऽथ चन्द्र-भास्करयोः क्रमात् ।
प्रतिमां स्वर्णजां नित्यं राजर्ती ताम्रजां तथा ॥ ५ ॥

'आप्यायस्वे' ति मन्त्रेण 'सविता' पश्चात्तमेव च ।
उपचारै समाराध्य ततो होमं समाचरेत् ॥ ६ ॥

समिधश्च चरुं विद्वान् क्रमेण जुहुयाद् व्रती ।
भक्त्या 'सवितृमन्त्रेण' सोमो धेनुश्च मन्त्रतः ॥ ७ ॥

अष्टोत्तरशतं वाऽपि अष्टाविंशतिरेव वा ।
अभिषेकं तथा कुर्यात् दम्पत्योश्च सपुत्रयोः ॥ ८ ॥

हिरण्यं रजतं चैव कृष्णधेनुश्च दक्षिणा ।
ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत् शक्त्या ततः क्षेममवाप्नुयात् ॥ ९ ॥

4-9: Worshipping amidst chanting of Mantras "सर्वे समुद्रा ........" and "अपोहिष्ठा....... ", the Kalasha (कलश) be established in the south west corner (अग्नि कोण). The idol of the deities of the Sun and the Moon being the lords of Amavasya be made out of gold or the idol of the Moon made of silver and that of the Sun in Copper. Both these idols be installed with the prescribed rituals by worshipping amidst recitation of Mantra "आप्यायस्व...." for the Sun and "सविता ....." for the Moon for 16 or 5 times and perform the Havana (हवन).

The learned Priests (पंडित) should perform Havana (हवना) giving oblations of wood pieces (समिधा) and cooked charu (चरु) while reciting Mantras with devoutness "सवितृ...." and "सोमो धेनुष्य ......." respectively for 108 or 28 times. Thereafter, water be sprinkled (semblance of a water bath-Abhisheka - अभिषेक) on the parents and the son (born on Amavasya). This be followed by offering of gold, silver and black cow as charity (दक्षिण) and the Brahmins be fed (as many one can afford). These propitiatiary ceremonies will extirpate the affliction and bring happiness and wellfare to the child.