Page:Durga Puja - With Notes and Illustrations.djvu/50

 the Sakrotthana or the rising of Indra has been observed as an agricultural festival. The Devi Purana says, in the month of Isha i.e. Asvina, in the waning fortnight, when the sun enters the sign Virgo, on the ninth day, the Goddess is to be roused with sport, pleasure, and prosperity. On the sixth day, with the asterism Jyaishtha (R and T, Scorpionis) the Vel tree is to be invited; on the seventh, with the asterism Mula, the entrance of the patricas is to be celebrated; on the eighth day, with Purvashadha asterism are to be performed with fast the puja and the homas; on the ninth day, with the asterism Uttarashadha, Siva is to be worshipped with balis; and on the tenth day, with the asterism Sravana the goddess being homaged is to be consigned to water. In the Kamakhya Panchamurti Prakrana, it is stated, that as long as there are the earth, the air, the heavens, water, fire, the moon, and the planets, so long shall the worship of Chandica be observed on the earth, for in ancient days on the eighth and ninth days of Asvina used to be celebrated with great eclat, the autumnal festival. It is added that in ancient times on the ninth day in autumn the goddess used to be awakened, the ceremony has accordingly been known as the great Autumnal Festival. The Linga Purana says, after worship,