Page:Hindu Holidays and Ceremonials.djvu/167

Rh On this day the calabash—like large fruit of the Cucurbita pepo should be hollowed out, then filled up with gold, silver and jewels and finally given to a Brahman. The reward promised is residence in Heaven in proportion to the number of seeds removed to make room for the gems, and others. In the Kartik MahStmya Pothi (book) it is said that in the tract situated between the Ganges and the Godavari, theie was a city. In this city there lived a rich Brahman called Rama Sharma. He had two sons named Krishna and Dhananjaya respectively. After the demise of their father, they divided the property among them- selves. Both lived the life of the profligate son known to Western scholars, and became very poor. They then left the city and lived in a forest the life of dakaits, and shikaris. On one occasion they charged a lion and were both killed. Their souls were taken to Yama the Pluto of India, Chandragupta the recorder of good and bad deeds was consulted, and he advised the transfer of one to Heaven and the other to Hell. Dhananjaya enquired on his way to Heaven why his brother was sent to Hell when they both had lived similar lives. The heavenly guide explained that while they both were studying the VedSs together, they were asked by their teachers to bathe in a river every morning during the month of Kartik but he (Dhananjaya) bathed for three days while his brother Krishna never did so. One bath destroyed all his (Dhan- anjaya's) sins, the second secured for him a seat in Heaven, and the third would prove of use there. The brother solicited advice as to the way to obtain his brother's release from hell, and to attain a seat in heaven. The angel told him that on the 9th of Kartik (October- November) a calabash fruit should be filled with gold, silver and gems and given to a Brahman. He did so in heaven, and got a seat for his beloved brother.

Lalita Panchami. The fifth day of the moon's increase in the month of Ashwin (September-October), is sacred to