﻿OF THE HINDUS, &€. 253 



be contented with this food offered on the ground, 

 and attain, hke it, a happy abode." He then gives 

 the Brdmarias water to rince their mouths ; and the 

 priests once more recite the Gayatri and the prayer, 

 *' may the winds blow sweet," &c. 



Then taking in his left hand another vessel con- 

 taining tila, blossoms and water, and in his right 

 a brush made of cusa grass, he sprinkes water over 

 the grass spread on the consecrated spot, naming tlie 

 deceased, and saying, " may this ablution be ac- 

 ceptable to thee :"■ he afterwards takes a cake or ball 

 of food mixed with claritied butter, and presents it, 

 saying, "may this cake be acceptable to thee ;" and 

 deals out the food with this prayer, " Ancestors, 

 rejoice ; take your respective shares, and be strong 

 as bulls.'" Then walking round by the left, to the 

 northern side of the consecrated spot, and meditat- 

 ing, " Ancestors be glad; take your respective 

 shares, and bestrons-as bulls:" he returns bv the same 

 road, and agaiu sprinkles water on the ground to 

 wash the oblation, saying, *' may this ablution be ac- 

 ceptable to thee. " 



Next, touching his hip with his elbow, or else 

 his riuht side, and having sipped water, he must 

 make six libations of water with the hollow palms of 

 his hand, saying, "Salutation unto thee, O deceased, 

 and unto the saddening [hot] season ; salutation 

 unto thee, O deceased, and unto the month of tapas 

 [or dewy season] ; salutation unto thee, O d.eceased, 

 and unto tliat [season] which abounds with water ; 

 salutation unto thee, O deceased, and to the nectar 

 {of blossoms] ; salutation unto thee, O deceased, 

 and to the terrible and angry [season] ; salutation 

 unto thee, O deceased, and to female fire [or the 

 sultry season] *." 



He next offers a thread on the funeral cake, hold- 

 ing the wet brush in his hand, naming the deceased, 



and 



* See note B, 



