Penn in Hand: Selected Manuscripts

Puranas. Skandapurāṇa. Selections.

Vaiśākhamāhātmya, 1887.

1 item (54 leaves) : paper ; 11 x 24 cm.

In Sanskrit (Devanāgarī)

Manuscript is a praise of the month of Vaiśākha (April-May) to be used in public or private meditation, prayer, or practice. Vaiśākha is presented as the best among the best of the months and is considered a favorite of the deity Viṣṇu. Contains descriptions of the various rites and rituals (such as bathing) that a devotee should perform during the month and the benefits that are received for doing so (such as attaining one's goals and receiving the benefits associated with pilgrimage). Opening folio is cut short on left side and some text is lost.

Vishnu (Hindu deity)

Devotional literature, Sanskrit.

Bathing customs - India.

Rites and ceremonies - India.

Poems.

Prayers.

Manuals (instructional materials).

Manuscripts, Sanskrit - 19th century.

Manuscripts - India - 19th century.

Title from colophon (f. 54r).

Written in 11-13 lines per leaf.

54 leaves foliated 1-54, upper left and lower right verso.

Colophon: iti śrīskaṃdapurāṇe vaiśākhamāhātmye caturviṃśodhyāyaḥ // śrīkāśīviśveśvarārpaṇam astu // saṃvat 1944 āśvinavadya 1 maṃdavāsare madhyāhe pūrṇaṃ // śrīvaiśākhamādhavārpaṇam astu // śrīkṛṣṇaryaṇam astu // śrībrahmaṇe namaḥ // (f. 54r).

Dated saṃvat 1944 (1887) (f. 54r).

Mistakes blacked out; some corrections and additions in margins.

Non-Latin script record.

Listed in H. I. Poleman, Census of Indic Manuscripts in the United States and Canada (New Haven, Conn.: American Oriental Society, 1938), Poleman 1574 (UP 317).

UPenn Ms. Coll. 390, Item 317

Collection of Indic Manuscripts. Item 317

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania Ms. Coll. 390

वैशाखमाहात्म्य, १८८७.