Английская Википедия:Hiranyagarbha (donation)
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:For
Hiranyagarbha (IAST: hiraṇya-garbha) is an ancient Indian ritual ceremony involving the donation of a golden vessel. It is mentioned as one of the "Sixteen great gifts" in the historical texts.Шаблон:Sfn
Ritual
The word hiranyagarbha literally means "golden womb": it signifies a golden pot (kunda) donated to a Brahmana, and also refers to the god Vishnu.Шаблон:Sfn
The donor performs an archana (worship ritual), and utters a mantra praising the lord Hiranyagarbha, that is, Vishnu. The performer then enters into the "golden womb", as the priests perform the rites usually performed for a pregnant woman: garbhadhana, pumsavana, and simantonnayana.Шаблон:Sfn
Next, the donor is taken out of the "golden womb", and the priests perform jatakarma and other rites usually performed for a newborn. The donor utters a mantra announcing a "rebirth" from the divine womb, and is called "born of the hiranyagarbha".Шаблон:Sfn
After the ceremony, the donor gives away the "golden womb" and other gifts to the priests.Шаблон:Sfn
History
The Atharvaveda-parishishta, composed in the 1st millennium BCE, describes hiranyagarbha, besides tulapurusha and gosahasra donations.Шаблон:Sfn These three donations are included among the sixteen great gifts in the later text Matsya Purana; the relevant section of the text appears to have been composed during 550-650 CE.Шаблон:Sfn It states that several ancient kings performed the great gifts.Шаблон:Sfn The Linga Purana also mentions the sixteen great donations; according to R. C. Hazara, the relevant portion of the text was composed during c. 600-1000 CE, most probably after 800 CE. The great gifts are also described in the later digests devoted to the topic of charity (dāna), such as Ballala's Dana-sagara, and the Danakhanda section of Hemadri's Chaturvarga-chintamani (13th century).Шаблон:Sfn
The Chalukya king Pulakeshin I (c. 540-567) is known to have performed the hiranyagarbha ritual (although not mentioned as a great gift) to proclaim his sovereignty.Шаблон:Sfn The 7th century Pandya king Jayantavarman (alias Cendan), according to one of his inscriptions, performed three of the great gifts: hiranyagarbha, gosahasra, and tulapursuha.Шаблон:Sfn
The great gifts went on to become the principal sign of a king's beneficence, overlordship, and independence in the subsequent centuries.Шаблон:Sfn In particular, hiranyagarbha finds a mention in multiple historical inscriptions of Indian kings, including:Шаблон:Sfn
- King Attivarman (c. 4th century) of Ananda dynasty, who is called hiranyagarbha-prasava ("born of the golden womb") in the Gorantala inscription.Шаблон:Sfn
- Damodaravarman of Ananda dynasty.Шаблон:Sfn
- Vishnukundin king Madhavarman I, who is called hiranyagarbha-prasuta ("born of the golden womb") in the Ipur and Polamuru inscriptions.Шаблон:Sfn
- Mangalesha (r. c. 592-610 CE), who is called hiranyagarbha-sambhuta ("produced from the golden womb") in the Mahakuta Pillar inscriptionШаблон:Sfn
- Dantidurga (r. c. 735-756) of Rashtrakuta dynastyШаблон:Sfn
- Rajaraja I (r. c. 985–1014) and his wife Dantisakti Vitanki Шаблон:Aka Lokama-devi of the Chola Dynasty performed the sacrifice, this is mentioned in the inscription present in the Thiruvisanallur Sivayoginathar Temple.[1]
- Yashahkarna (r. c. 1073-1123) of Kalachuri dynasty of TripuriШаблон:Sfn
- Jaya Pala (r. c. 1075-1110)Шаблон:Sfn
The ruler of Travancore used the ritual to raise his caste status to that of a Kshatriya.[2]
References
Bibliography
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
