The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

156 - Indra’s Festival
In this belief the prosperous drum in the temple of Vajrāyudha 81 was
taken out and placed on the back of the royal elephant, and by beat of
that drum, the announcement was made in the following terms:–
‘May the city of this old royal family prosper! May the land be blessed
with the three rains every month! May the planets follow their course
because of the righteousness of the sovereigns! On the occasion of
[115] the propitiatory festival of this great land, the thousand-eyed
Indra along with the four classes of Dēvas (gods), and the eight gaṇas
or groups of Dēvatas (minor gods), would arrive here in the city
making the heaven of Indra empty, as was this royal city itself, when
the great Cōḻa Karikāla left the city on a distant expedition of
conquest. Do therefore decorate the city, the great royal roads and the
halls of faultless learning; put in their appropriate places jars filled
with water, seed vessels with budding sprouts and statues holding
lamps. Decorate the streets and buildings with areca and plantain
trees carrying bunches of fruit, creepers of Vañji and other kinds, and
plant them with sugar-cane.
Along the open plinths of houses suspend strings of pearls from pillar
to pillar. Remove the old soil and spread new sand over the streets.
Hoist flags and hang festoons over the gateways of houses. Tidy up
temples ranging from that of the god “with an eye in the forehead” 82
to the guardian deity of the public square, with what requires to be
done under the instructions of those expert in it.
Let those well-versed in the holy teachings take their place under
awnings, or in canopied halls. Let those well-versed in various
religions assemble in the halls of learning set apart for discussion.
Give up feelings of enmity even to those who are inimical to you. Do
81 The characteristic weapon of Indra, Śakti, the thunderbolt.
82 Śiva.