#6B8E23 Dr. R. Nagaswamy Proclamation of Sacred Day (Punyaha) This rite is a continuation of the rite mentioned earlier. Four Brahmin priests are invited to recite the Vedic chants and these priests are called Ritviks. The performer seeks the approval of the priests and gets the purifying chants recited. The priests are expected to pronounce their approval loudly. On their approval the performers requests the Vedic reciters to declare the following. 1) Let the day be declared auspicious for the rituals. ( The priests will say “let it be so”) 2) The priests are requested to declare their blessings on all the acts performed n this ritual. The priests will say “we bless as requested”. 3) That everything should be performed in full without any shortcoming. The Priests will say” yes we shall”. 4) The priests are requested to pronounce that the day be auspicious on all counts. The priests would say “yes that it is so”. 5) The priests should declare that the ritual is auspicious and they will say “yes”. 6) They must say that there must be peace everywhere. They would say “yes”. 7) They must say that all people must be healthy and the priests would say “they would be so”. 8) The priests are requested to declare that there will be happiness everywhere. And they say “yes”. 9) They must say that there will be prosperity everywhere and they say “yes”. 10) The priests are requested to declare that there shall be no obstacle to any act and the priests would say “yes”. 11) All sins that exist must be extinguished in the South Eastern direction and the priests will respond saying “they are gone”. 12) The Priests are requested to vouchsafe that there will be wealth everywhere. and they say “yes”. 13) The priests are requested to say that there will reign all auspiciousness every where, and they concur with that. 14) The Brahmin priests willdeclare that all these prayers will be fulfilled. It may be seen that the first requisite for performing the purificatory rite is that the day should be auspicious and there must be peace and prosperity, health, wealth and no obstruction while doing the acts. The Brahmin priests must say that all these will prevail. This seems to be a community approval for the performance of the rite.