﻿258 0^' THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



were worn at the funeral of tlie deceased, and adds 

 ^some other remuneration. He then anoints his head 

 and limbs down to his feet, \vith oil of sesamum, 

 rubs all his limbs with meal of sesamum, and his head 

 with the ground pods of white mustard ; he bathes, 

 sips water, touches and blesses various auspicious 

 things, such as stones, clarified butter, leaves of 

 Nimba, white mustard, Dutcci grass, coral, a cow, 

 ^^^^^y curds, honey, a mirror, and a conch ; and 

 also touches a bambu staff. He now returns puri- 

 fied to his home, and thus completes the first obse- 

 quies of the deceased. 



The second series of obsequies, commencing on 

 the day after the period of mourning has elapsed, is 

 opened by a lustration termed the consolatory cere- 

 mony, the description of which must be here abridged 

 for want of a commentary to explain all the prayers 

 that are recited at this religious rite ; for the same 

 reason an account of the ceremonies attending the 

 consecration and dismissal of a bull in honour of the 

 deceased, must for the present be postponed. 



The lustration consists in the consecration of four 

 vessels of water, and sprinkling therewith the house, 

 the furniture, and the persons belonging to the fa- 

 mily. After lighting afire, and blessing the atten- 

 dant Jirdhmrm'as, the priest fills four vessels with 

 water, and putting his hand into the fi.rst, meditates 

 the gaijatri before and after reciting the following 

 prayers : 



1. " May generous waters be auspicious to us, for 

 grain and for refreshing draughts ; may they ap- 

 proach towards us, that we may be associated with 

 good auspices." 2. " Earth, afford us ease, be free 

 from thorns, be habitable ; widely extended as thou 

 art, procure us happiness." S. "O waters! since 

 ye afford delight, grant us food, and the rapturous 

 t^iglit [of the Supreme Being]." 4, ''Like tender 



3 mothers, 



