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Vira Simhavaloka · Chapter 34
अपस्मार — कर्मविपाकः
This is the Apasmara karmavipaka chapter of Vira Simhavaloka, on the past-life deed the text links to this trouble. The text links this trouble to harming one's master or teacher, or choking a priest.
Classical view, not medical advice.
Check these rules in your own chart
Check free →The amends are a fast, a fire offering and the gift of a gold image of Vinayaka in a pillared pavilion.
The English below is our translation from the Sanskrit.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
अथापस्माररोगस्य कर्मविपाकप्रकारमाचष्टे तत्प्रतीकारं च । अथापस्माररोगे स्वामिनो गुरोश्च हंता प्रतिकूलो वा अपस्मारी जायते ।
Next, the text tells how epilepsy comes from past deeds, and its remedy. It says that one who killed his master or his teacher, or worked against them, may be born with epilepsy.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
अस्य प्रायश्चित्तं चांद्रायणं कुर्यात् । सदसस्पतिमद्भुतमित्यनेन मंत्रेण चरुघृताभ्यां जुहुयात् । देवब्राह्मणान्संपूज्य नमस्कुर्यात् । हिरण्यं दद्यात् । कयानश्चित्रआभुवदिति सूक्तं जपेत् ।
As prayashchitta (making amends) for this, he should keep the chandrayana (moon-phase fast). He should do homa (fire offering) of cooked rice and clarified butter, with the mantra that begins "sadasaspatim adbhutam". He should honour gods and Brahmins and bow to them. He should give gold. He should do japa (repeating a mantra) of the hymn that begins "kaya nash chitra a bhuvat".
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
यथाह बौधायनः । ब्राह्मणश्वासरोधेन ह्यपस्मारी भवेन्नरः ।वक्ष्ये तस्य प्रतीकारं दानहोमक्रियादिभिः ॥
As Baudhayana says: A man becomes epileptic by choking a Brahmin. I will tell the remedy for him, by gifts, fire offerings and rites.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
पलेन वा तदर्धेन तदर्धार्धेन वा पुनः ।विनायकप्रतिकृतिं कुर्यात्स्वर्णेन शोभनाम् ॥
Make a fine image of Vinayaka (Ganesha) in gold. It should weigh one pala (weight unit of about 48 grams), or half of that, or half of that again.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
राजतं च तथा नागमुपवीतं प्रकल्पयेत् ।पुष्करं पद्मरागेण हस्तं रत्नैः प्रकल्पयेत् ॥
Make the sacred thread as a silver snake. Make the tip of the trunk of ruby. Make the hand with gems.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
विनायकार्धमानेन मुखं देवस्य कल्पयेत् ।तस्याप्यग्रे प्रदेयानि रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥
Make the god's face at half the measure of Vinayaka [the whole image]. Set gems of many kinds in front of it.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
माणिक्येन प्रकुर्वीत चक्षुषी तस्य शोभने ।पूर्वेद्युर्मंडपं कुर्यात्स्तंभषोडशभिर्दृढम् ॥
Make his two fine eyes of ruby. On the day before, build a strong mandapa (pavilion) with sixteen pillars.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
यद्वा द्वादशभिः कुर्यादष्टाभिश्च प्रयत्नतः ।मंडपस्य चतुर्भागां वेदिकां परिकल्पयेत् ॥
Or build it with twelve, or with eight, with care. Make a vedika (altar) in the mandapa, one quarter of its size.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
रात्रौ विनायकस्यापि ह्यधिवासनमिष्यते ।चतुर्भिर्ब्राह्मणैः सार्धमाचार्यः सर्वशास्त्रवित् ॥
At night the adhivasana (rite of welcoming the god into the image) of Vinayaka is also wanted. It is done with four Brahmins and a lead priest who knows every shastra (science).
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
स्वयमेव तदाचार्यो धर्मज्ञः सत्यवाञ्छुचिः ।कुलीनो न च वृद्धश्च सर्वप्राणिहिते रतः ॥
The lead priest himself should know duty and be truthful and pure. He should be of good family, not old, and glad to do good to all beings.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्यान्मध्यरात्रे बलिं हरेत् ।मत्स्यमांसेन तं दद्यात्तथा क्षीरौदनेन च ॥
He should keep a night vigil. At midnight he should offer the bali (offering to spirits). He should give it with fish and meat, and with rice cooked in milk.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
आचार्यः प्रयतो भूत्वा मंत्रेणानेन संयतः ।पूर्वस्यां दिशि तं दद्याद्बलिं वै सर्वकामिकम् ॥
The lead priest, pure and self-controlled, should give this offering with the mantra below. He should give it in the eastern quarter. It fulfils every wish.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा देवा भूतानि वासवः ।सर्पाः पिशाचाः शाकिन्यो डाकिन्यः पांथदेवताः ॥
"The Adityas, Vasus and Rudras, the gods, the bhutas (spirits) and Indra; the sarpas (snake spirits), the pishachas (goblins), the shakinis (female spirits) and the dakinis (female spirits); and the gods of the roadside;
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
अपस्माराधिदैवं च वेताला नैर्ऋतास्तथा ।बलिदानेन दत्तेन शांतिं कुर्वंतु सर्वशः ॥
the lord of epilepsy, the vetalas (corpse-possessing spirits) and the nairritas (spirits of the south-west) as well: may all of them make peace everywhere, by this gift of the offering."
This is the mantra for the offering.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
ततः प्रभाते विमले स्नात्वा चाहतवाससः ॥भूषिताः कटकैः सम्यगुपवीतांगुलीयकैः ।कुंडानि दिक्षु चत्वारि मेखलासंवृतानि च ॥
Then, at clear dawn, they bathe and put on fresh cloth. They adorn themselves well with bracelets, sacred threads and rings. Four fire pits are made, one in each direction, each with a raised border.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
कुर्युस्ते तु पृथक्तेषु होमं मंत्रैः स्वकैस्तदा ।पूर्वस्मिन्बह्वृचः कुर्यात्समिदाज्यचरूत्कटम् ॥
They should each do homa (fire offering) separately in these pits, with their own mantras. In the east the Rig Veda priest should do a rich homa of kindling sticks, clarified butter and cooked rice.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
विनायकं समुद्दिश्य गणानांत्वेति मंत्रतः ।तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे वक्रतुंडाय धीमहि ।तन्नो दंती ( न्तिः ) प्रचोदयात् ॥
He offers it to Vinayaka with the mantra that begins "gananam tva". Then: "tatpurushaya vidmahe vakratundaya dhimahi, tanno danti prachodayat" (a mantra).
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
अध्वर्युर्दक्षिणे कुंडे कुर्याद्धोमं समाहितः ॥छंदोगः पश्चिमे वापि तद्दैवत्येन होमयेत् ।अथर्वणश्चोत्तरे च कुंडे होमं प्रकल्पयेत् ॥
The priest of the Yajur Veda, with a steady mind, should do homa (fire offering) in the south pit. The priest of the Sama Veda should do it in the west, with mantras of that same god. The priest of the Atharva Veda should do it in the north pit.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
विनायकाय देवाय सर्वभूतहिताय च ।गणानामधिपत्येप्रयुक्ताय हुंफट्स्वस्तिस्वधानमःस्वाहा ॥
"vinayakaya devaya sarvabhutahitaya cha gananam adhipatye prayuktaya hum phat svasti svadha namah svaha" (a mantra).
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
समिदाज्यचरून्हुत्वा पूर्वाहुत्यंतमेव हि ।आचार्यः प्रतिमां तां च ब्राह्मणैः सह संयुतः ॥
When the fire offering is done, up to the last offering, the lead priest takes up that image. The offering was of kindling sticks, clarified butter and cooked rice. The Brahmins join him.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
आसनं वेदिकामध्ये वितानादिसुशोभने ।तिलानामुपरि स्थाप्य गंधपुष्पैः प्रपूजयेत् ॥
He sets it on a seat in the middle of the altar. The altar is well decorated with a canopy and the like. He places it on sesame seeds and worships it with scent and flowers.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
वस्त्रैर्नानाविधैः शुभ्रैः कर्पूरकटकादिभिः ।उपचारैः षोडशभिर्नैवेद्यं चैव मोदकैः ॥
He worships it with many kinds of bright white cloth, camphor, bracelets and the like. He does the sixteen acts of worship. He offers naivedya (food offering) with modakas (sweet dumplings).
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
यथा देवे तथाचार्येऽप्यलंकारादि कल्पयेत् ॥आचार्यः परया भक्त्या गणेशाय प्रकल्पयेत्॥
Ornaments and the like are arranged for the lead priest just as for the god. The lead priest, with the highest devotion, should make the offering to Ganesha.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
अपूपादि तथान्यच्च कारयेद्भक्षकादिकम् ।निवेद्य पार्वतीं चापि देवदेवं महेश्वरम् ॥
He should have cakes and other things made, and other eatables. He should offer them to Parvati, and to Maheshvara (Shiva), the god of gods.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या आचार्यः स्वयमेव हि ।तथैव रोगवान्भक्त्या संपूज्य गणनायकम् ॥
The lead priest himself should worship them with the highest devotion. In the same way the sick person should worship Ganesha, leader of Shiva's attendants, with devotion.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
गणानांत्वेति मंत्रेण तूष्णीं शूद्रस्तु पूजयेत् ।ततो मध्यंदिने प्राप्ते प्रतिमां दक्षिणायुताम् ॥
[A twice-born man] worships with the mantra that begins "gananam tva". A shudra (a person of the labouring caste, in the old social order) should worship in silence. Then, when midday comes, the image is given, with the fee to the priest.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
मंत्रेणानेन दद्याच्च स रोगी प्राङ्मुखः स्वयम्उदङ्मुखोपविष्टाय ब्राह्मणायातिभक्तितः ॥
The sick person himself, facing east, should give it with this mantra and with great devotion. He gives it to a Brahmin who sits facing north.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
विनायक प्रपन्नार्तिहर विघ्नविनायक ।त्वं देवैः प्रार्थितः पूर्वं विघ्नविघ्नपरायणैः ॥
"O Vinayaka, you take away the pain of those who come to you. O remover of obstacles! In the past the gods asked you for help. They were intent on warding off obstacles.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
ब्राह्मणश्वासरोधेन यज्जातं मम वैकृतम् ।पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन ह्यपस्मारोन्मदादिकम् ॥
The illness came upon me by choking a Brahmin. It comes from the ripening of an earlier deed. It is epilepsy, madness and the like.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
जाड्यं वाप्यथ बाधिर्यं नासिकारोधभाषणम् ।त्वदर्चायाः प्रदानेन रोगमाशुविनाशय ॥
It may be dullness, or deafness, or a blocked nose and trouble in speech. By the gift of your image, destroy this illness quickly."
This is the mantra for the gift.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
चतुर्णां ब्राह्मणानां च यथाशक्त्या च दक्षिणा ।एवं कृत्वा गणपतेर्दानंमर्त्यः सुखी भवेत् ॥
A fee should be given to the four Brahmins as far as one can. A man who makes this gift of Ganesha in this way becomes happy.
Apasmara (epilepsy) - past deeds
इत्यपस्मारहरणविधिः ॥
This is the rite that eases epilepsy.
Units 34.4 to 34.6 describe a gold image of Vinayaka with a silver snake as the sacred thread.