﻿OF THE HINDUS, &C. 271 



the ceremonies which, according to the notions of 

 the Hindus, contrihute to the regeneration of a 

 twiceborn man, that is, of a Brahmancu Csha- 

 trii/a, or Vais'ya. This s'radd'ha is likewise per- 

 formed at the commencement and close of a solemn 

 fait. 



It should be observed respecting the practice of 

 giving food to priests at ail these obsequies, that 

 Brahman' as generally give it to one or more of their 

 own relations. A stranger, unless indigent, would 

 be very unwilling to accept the food, or to attend at 

 a s'rdddlia for the purpose of eating it. The use of 

 flesh-meat is positively enjoined to Hindus at certain 

 obsequies, (see Menu c. 3. v. I;i4, ) and recom- 

 mended at all (Menu c. 3. v. 268, &c.): but the 

 precepts of their law-givers on the subject are by 

 some deemed obsolete in the present age ; and are 

 evaded by others, who acknowledge tiic cogency of 

 these lav» s : these commonly make a vow to abstain 

 from tlesh-meat, and consider that vow as more 

 binding than the precepts here alluded to. Others 

 again not only eat meat at obsequies and solemn 

 sacrifices, but make it their common diet, in direct 

 breach of the institutes of their religion. (See 

 Menu c. 5. v. 31, &c.) 



Bhahman'as, who maintain a perpetual fire, which 

 all who devote themselves to the priesthood ought 

 to do, perform the daily ceremonies of religion in 

 their full detail. Others, who are engaged iu 

 worldly pursuits, and even some who follow the re- 

 gular profession of the sacerdotal tribe, abridge these 

 lites : they comprise all the daily sacraments in one 

 ceremony, called J^aisnadeua, which is celebrated 

 in the forenoon, and by some in the evenuig like- 

 wise. It consists in oblations to the Gods, lo the 

 manes, and to the spirits, out of the food prepared 

 for the daily meal; and in a gift of a part of it to 

 guests. 



Sitting dov.n on a clean spot of ground, the 



Brahman'a 



