Hiranyagarbha (donation)

Hiranyagarbha (IAST: hiraṇya-garbha) is an ancient Indian ceremony involving the donation of a golden vessel. It is mentioned as one of the sixteen great gifts in the historical texts.

Ritual

The word hiranyagarbha literally means "golden womb": it signifies a golden pot (''kunda'') donated to a brahmana, and also refers to the god Vishnu.

The donor performs an archana (worship ritual), and utters a mantra praising the lord Hiranyagarbha, that is, Vishnu. The performer then enters into the "golden womb", as the priests perform the rites usually performed for a pregnant woman: garbhadhana, pumsavana, and simantonnayana.

Next, the donor is taken out of the "golden womb", and the priests perform jatakarma and other rites usually performed for a newborn. The donor utters a mantra announcing a "rebirth" from the divine womb, and is called "born of the hiranyagarbha".

After the ceremony, the donor gives away the "golden womb" and other gifts to the priests.

History

The ''Atharvaveda''-'' parishishta'', composed in the 1st millennium BCE, describes hiranyagarbha, besides tulapurusha and gosahasra donations. These three donations are included among the sixteen great gifts in the later text ''Matsya Purana''; the relevant section of the text appears to have been composed during 550-650 CE. It states that several ancient kings performed the great gifts. The ''Linga Purana'' also mentions the sixteen great donations; according to R. C. Hazara, the relevant portion of the text was composed during c. 600-1000 CE, most probably after 800 CE. The great gifts are also described in the later digests devoted to the topic of charity (dāna), such as Ballala's ''Dana-sagara'', and the ''Danakhanda'' section of Hemadri's ''Chaturvarga-chintamani'' (13th century).

The Chalukya king Pulakeshin I (c. 540-567) is known to have performed the hiranyagarbha ritual (although not mentioned as a great gift) to proclaim his sovereignty. The 7th century Pandya king Jayantavarman (alias Cendan), according to one of his inscriptions, performed three of the great gifts: hiranyagarbha, gosahasra, and tulapursuha.

The great gifts went on to become the principal sign of a king's beneficence, overlordship, and independence in the subsequent centuries. In particular, hiranyagarbha finds a mention in multiple historical inscriptions of Indian kings, including:

* King Attivarman (c. 4th century) of Ananda dynasty, who is called ''hiranyagarbha-prasava'' ("born of the golden womb") in the Gorantala inscription.
* Damodaravarman of Ananda dynasty.
* Vishnukundin king Madhavarman I, who is called ''hiranyagarbha-prasuta'' ("born of the golden womb") in the Ipur and Polamuru inscriptions.
* Mangalesha (r. c. 592-610 CE), who is called ''hiranyagarbha-sambhuta'' ("produced from the golden womb") in the Mahakuta Pillar inscription
* Dantidurga (r. c. 735-756) of Rashtrakuta dynasty
* Yashahkarna (r. c. 1073-1123) of Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri
* Jaya Pala (r. c. 1075-1110)

References

Bibliography

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Rituals in Hindu worship
Donation