346 ON THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



" thee ; mayeft thou and lie cleanfe my mouth with 

 il glory and good aufpices, that I may eat abun- 

 (C dant food." The following prayer is alio ufed upon 

 this occafion, " Lord of the foreft ! grant me life, 

 ftrength, glory, fplendour, offspring, cattle, abundant 

 wealth, virtue, knowledge, and : intelligence." But 

 if a proper withe cannot be found, or on certain 

 days when the ufe of it is forbidden (that is, on the 

 day of the conjunction and on the firft, fixth, 

 and ninth days of each lunar fortnight), he muft 

 rince his mouth twelves times with water. 



Having carefully thrown away the twig, which has 

 been ufed, in a place free from impurities, he lhould 

 proceed to bathe, ftanding in a river or in other wa- 

 ter. The duty of bathing in. the morning and at 

 noon, if the man be a houfeholder, and in the 

 evening alfo, if he belong to an order of devotion, is 

 inculcated by pronouncing the ffrict obfervance of 

 it in no lefs efficacious, than a rigid penance, in ex- 

 piating fins, especially the early bath in the months 

 cf Magna, Pholgima, and Cartica : and the bath 

 being particularly enjoined as a falutary ablu- 

 tion, he is permitted to bathe in his own houfe, but 

 without prayers, if the weather, or his own infirmi- 

 ties prevent his going forth ; or he may abridge the 

 ceremonies and ufe fewer prayers, if a religious duty 

 or urgent buiinefs require his early attendance. The 

 regular bath confifts of ablutions followed by worfhip 

 and by the inaudable recitation of the Gayaln with 

 the names of the worlds. Firft fipping water, 

 and Sprinkling fome before him, the prieft recites 

 three fubjomed prayers, while he performs an 

 ition by throwing water eight times on his head, 

 01 towards the fky, and concludes it by calling water 

 on the ground to deffcrby the Demons, who wage 

 war with the Gods. "' in:. O waters ! fince ye afford 

 " delight, grant us prcfent happinefs, and the rap- 

 <r - turous light of the fupreme God. 2d. Like tender 

 <c Mothers make us here partakers of your moft auf- 

 (i picious eiTcnce. 3d. We became contended with 



your 



