﻿265 CN THE "RELIGIOUS CEHEMONIES 



.* may choose to give, siicli as an elephant, a horse, 

 ' a carnage, a slave, a house, and so forth.' 



It is hardly necessary to remark on this quotation, 

 that none but very rich or superstitious persons 

 make these ample donations, which are not positively 

 enjoined, though strenuously recommended. 



There is some difference in the religious forma- 

 lities, with which various things are given, or ac- 

 cepted, on this, or on any other occasion. In the 

 formal declaration too, a different tutelary Deity is 

 named, and a different objcft is specified ; but, in 

 other respects, the form of the declaration is similar, 

 ■whatever be the occasion on which the gift is made. 



In making a donation of land, the donor sits 

 down with his face to the east, opposite to the per- 

 son to whom he gives it. The donor says, " salu- 

 tation to this land with its produce: salutation to 

 this priest, to whom I give it." Then, after shoM^- 

 ing him honour in the usual form, he pours water 

 into his hand, saying, " I give thee this land with 

 its produce. " The other replies, " give it. " Upon 

 which he sprinkles the place with water ; and taking 

 np water, with holy basil, and ciis'a grass, he pours 

 the water into the other's hand, making a form.al (ie- 

 claration of the donation and the motive of it. He 

 then delivers a bit of gold, Avith ciis'a grass, &c. de- 

 claring his purpose in giving it, as a sacerdotal fee, 

 to consolidate the donation of land. The other ac- 

 cepts the gift by a verbahacknowlcdgmcnt, and me- 

 ditates ihe gayatri with some other prayers. 



A CHAIR or stool is accepted by sitting down on 

 it; clothes, by putting them on ; a parasol, by hold- 

 ing the handle of it; shoes, or sandals, by standing 

 on them ; and a couch, by lying on it. In these and 

 other donations, there is no variation in the prayers ; 

 but the gift of a milch cow is made witli other texts, 

 which the donor recites standing near the cow, and 

 makina; a libation of water from the 'palms of his 



Jianas 



