OF THE HINDUS. 363 



traverfe water up to his throat, and drink as much 

 exprefied juice of the moon plant, as he can take up 

 in the hollow of both hands, while lie meditates the 

 triliteral monofyllable, and then plunge into water, 

 reciting the fubjoined prayer, " O Rudra ! hunt 

 " not our offspring and descendants ; abridge not the 

 " period of our lives ; deftroy not our cows ; kill not 

 <c our horfes \ (lay not our proud and irritable folks; 

 " becaufe, holding oblations, we always pray to 

 " thee." 



Having fmifhed his ablutions, and coming out of 

 the water, putting on his apparel after cleanfing it, 

 having waihed his hands and feet, and having lipped 

 water, the prieft fits down to worfhip in the fame 

 mode, which was directed after the early bath : fub- 

 flituting, however, the following prayer, in lieu of 

 that which begins with the words, " May the fun, 

 facrifice, &c.'* " May the waters purify the earthy 

 ic that the, being cleanfed, may purify me : may the 

 (i lord of holy knowledge purify her, that fhe being 

 " cleanfed by holinefs, may purify me : may the wa- 

 " ters free me from every defilement, whatever be my 

 ic uncleannefs, whether I have eaten prohibited food, 

 tc done forbidden acts, or accepted the gifts, of dii 



(i honeft men. 1 ' Another difference between worfhio 



j. 



at noon and in the morning, con fills in ftanding be- 

 fore the fun with uplifted arms, in (lead of joining the 

 hands in a hollow form. In all other refpects the 

 form of adoration is firnilar. 



Having concluded this ceremony, and walked 

 in a round beginning through the fouth, and faluted 

 the fun, the prieft may proceed to finely a portion of 

 the veda. Turning his face towards the caff 

 with his right hand towards the fouth, and his left 

 hand towards the north, fitting down with the 

 cufi grafs before him, holding two 1 acred blades of 

 grafs on the tips of his left fingers, and placing 

 his right hand thereon, -with the palm turned upwards, 

 and having thus meditated the Gayairi, the pi. 

 ihould recite the proper text on < ommencing the 



/ 1 1 cl .:.-, 



