144 Ram Narayan — Translation of the Ayodhya-lfdhdtmya. [No. 2, 



are admitted to the regions of Vishnu, and he who gives alms according to his 

 means, reaps the benefits of the highest degree of charity. How good and 

 important is this fast ! and how virtuous are those who keep it ! They are 

 sure of obtaining heaven. He who keeps this fast, reaps the fruits of giving 

 alms during an eclipse of the sun and of bathing at Kurukshetra [north of 

 Dihli], and performing sacrifices there ; and when keeping it according to 

 the prescribed ceremonies, a man does no more return to woman's womb, but 

 becomes Rama himself. A Vaishnava, who does not fast, when there is a 

 union of the Ashtami and Navami, but on a pure Navami day, and reads 

 religious books, such as the Puranas, on the following Dasami, gains all 

 kinds of benefits. This is certain." 



Chapter VIII. 



Then Mahadeva said, " Having kept the fast, he should repair to the 

 Birthplace, worship and pray, as already prescribed. He should place 

 Raghunandana in a six-sided vessel of gold or silver, and when he cannot 

 afford either, on the back of a leaf of the Bela-tree, marked with three cross- 

 lines, worship him, and throw flowers upon him after reading the twelve- 

 letter-mantra of Vasudeva. In the same manner, he should worship the 

 vessel or leaf, upon which he has stationed Raghunandana, and invoke the 

 fifty-seven gods that obtain a place there. After this, he should offer per- 

 fumes, flowers, articles of food, &c, praise them with folded hands, touch 

 the six corners after reading the mantra, beginning with Hridai, the breast, 

 head, the tuft of hair on the top of the head, clothes, eyes, weapons, and 

 worship them with sixteen prescribed things, repeating the Mula-mantra 

 during the whole time. He should then worship Indra, Lokapala, Vasishta 

 Muni, &c., with their peculiar mantras, take arghya,* and throw it upon 

 Raghunandana, saying "Thou art the destroyer of Ravana, protector of 

 Dharma and the devotees, and art Bhagavan, please accept my offering 

 with your brothers.' 



All this should be performed on the Navami. O Goddess, hear what 

 the benefits are of worshipping on the Navami. It is related that in ancient 

 times there were five wicked persons in the country of Marakantar ; one 

 Lampaka, an oil-maker ; Sanku, a weaver ; Luntak, a Nat ; Dushta Dhivar, a 

 sailor ; and Dharma Kahar. They lived in five different cities. The oil-maker 

 accidently killed a cow when he was making oil, for which sin he was turned 

 out of the city by the Raja. The weaver cohabited with the wife of his younger 

 brother, for which he was also banished. The Nat was expelled for attacking 

 passengers with bows and arrows in jungles. Dhivar and Kahar being thieves, 



* "Water containing sandal, rice flour, and betel-nut. 



