Auspicious Timing for the Pavilion (Unknown) - Page 4

⚠The manuscript consists of two separate fragments; the top fragment has irregular, torn edges and jagged borders. Fading and heavy rubrication (red ink) affect legibility in some areas.

[Fragment 1]

7. Om. Salutations to the Lord Ganesha. original: "Om Śrī-Gaṇeśāya namaḥ" Now begins the auspicious timing for the ritual pavilion. original: "Atha maṇḍapa-muhūrttaḥ." This section specifies when and how to erect the ceremonial structure. Ritual sipping of water. Breath control. original: "Ācamanaṃ prāṇāyāmaḥ." These are standard preparatory purification rites. Salutations to the Lord Ganesha.

[Recite:] To Soma, the King, to Varuna, and to the Ashvins... original: "A soma rājānaṃ varuṇamaśvyaśrī." These are Vedic invocations to deities governing growth and cosmic order. On this day, for the purpose of beginning the son’s initiation Upanayana|The "second birth" or sacred thread ceremony where a boy is initiated into Vedic study, and to avert all misfortunes, I shall perform the rite of the Mandapa Muhurta.

Perform the worship of the goddess Ganeshani. The female energy or consort of Ganesha. Food offering. Then, perform the ritual worship of the thread. Tie a leaf to it. Likely a mango or banyan leaf used for sanctification. In the ritual pit, place betel nuts and then install the pillar. The first pole of the pavilion is ritually fixed into the ground. Recite the declaration of an auspicious day Punyahavachana|A rite to sanctify the time and place of the ceremony and the blessings. For the Brahmins... to Varuna...

[Fragment 2]

May there be long life. May there be prosperity and great peace. original: "Dīrghamāyurastu. Vṛddhiḥ suśāntirbhavatu." For the completion of this Mandapa Muhurta rite, give gold original: "hiraṇya" as a priestly fee to a learned man. original: "dakṣiṇā" [For families such as] the Pandyas and others. A common Brahmin surname in Western India. For this Mandapa Muhurta rite, may there be purity of the planets. Salutations.

Thus ends the ritual of the pavilion. original: "iti maṇḍapamuhūrtta"

In the evening, perform the hair-consecration ritual. Jata-adhivasanam|A preparatory ritual where the boy's hair is sanctified before the tonsure/shaving ceremony Seat the boy on a wooden stool. The text shifts here to a vernacular dialect, likely Old Gujarati, providing practical instructions. Place a yellow cloth on the stool. Have him wear yellow clothing. Place the yellow upper garment on him. Then, the auspicious married women Suvasini|A woman whose husband is alive, considered a symbol of good fortune in Hindu rituals perform the welcoming ritual with the banyan branch. original: "poṃkhe." A Gujarati ritual (ponkhvu) where a guest or initiate is welcomed by waving specific objects to ward off the evil eye. Four times each, then [the boy] stands upon the stool...