The Mystery of the Faces, Part 3

Da. Ko.

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...Auspicousness! Thus ends the Brief Manual for the Ten-Million Oblation Sacrifice of the Ten Faces Dashamukha KotihomaA massive Vedic ritual involving ten million offerings into a fire-pit designed with ten "faces" or directions. and the Hundred-Faced Maitra ritual. It was composed by Devabhadra, the son of Balabhadra Pathaka, who was born of the lineage of Gangadhara Pathaka, the son of the illustrious Ramachandra, a member of the Nagara caste of Great Sacrificers Mahayajnika.

In the year 1777 of the era of King Shalivahana Approximately 1855 CE., in the year named Parthiva The 59th year in the traditional 60-year Jovian cycle., during the month of Jyeshtha Falling in May–June. in the bright fortnight on a Wednesday.

While Jupiter was in the zodiac sign of Leo original: "Simha rashi", in the village of Kathora, this manual of the Ten-Million Oblation Sacrifice was completed. This book belongs to the wise Ramachandra; may the Lord be pleased with the work of his hands.

This book was written for the purpose of a pilgrimage to the village of Kathora on the banks of the Gautami The Godavari River. during the festival of Jupiter in Leo The Kumbha Mela cycle.. The illustrious Madholopana? was the great patron Mahayajamana. This manual of the Ten-Million Oblation Sacrifice was transcribed by Shatrughna... with effort this text was written, and with effort it should be preserved. May there be prosperity! Auspiciousness to the writer and the reader!

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This is the Mystery

Da. Ko.

...of the Lord. When the ritual face is toward the North, it is in the form of Shiva, peaceful and destroying obstacles. If it is toward the underworld, it is two-handed and destroys the accumulation of wealth. In the three qualities, it gives great happiness on earth—so says the text Shantisara A medieval compendium on peace-making rituals..

Prose

The mysteries of the "peaceful faces" not mentioned here are described in other texts, as follows:

On Sunday original: "Aditya", there is anger.
On Monday original: "Nishakara", there is fear of disease.
On Wednesday original: "Budha", there is wealth and prosperity.
Wisdom

On Thursday original: "Guru", all gains are proclaimed.
On Friday original: "Bhargava", there is success in work.
On Saturday original: "Saura", death is foretold.
With Rahu The North Node of the Moon., there is fear of enemies.
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With Ketu The South Node of the Moon., there is misery.

Such is the auspicious and inauspicious nature of the timing. The author of the commentary on the Chintamani Likely referring to the Vivahachintamani or a similar astrological treatise. has not included this discussion of the "faces" because it does not follow the standard rules for the life-cycle rituals Samskaras. This is appropriate, as such mysteries follow the traditions of the Smritis and Puranas Legal and mythological scriptures..