﻿S74 ON THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



About this time he extinguishes the Racshoghna, 

 or lamp lighted previously to the presenting of obla- 

 tions to the Gods and to the manes. It was lighted 

 for the purpose of repelling evil spirits, and is now- 

 extinguished with this text. " In solemn acts of 

 religion, whatever fails through the negligence of 

 those who perform the ceremony, may be perfected 

 solely through meditation on Vishn'u." 



The Brahman' a should next offer the residue of 

 the oblation to spirits, going round to the different 

 places where such oblations ought to be made, 

 sweeping each spot with his hand, sprinkling water 

 on it, and placing there lumps of food. Near the 

 spot where the vessel of water stands, he presents 

 three such oblations, saying, "salutation to rain; 

 to water ; to the earth. " At both doors of his house 

 he makes offerings to D'hatri and Vid'hatri, or 

 Brahma, the protector and creator. Towards the 

 eight principal points of the compass he places of- 

 ferings, severally adding salutation to them and to 

 the regents of them. In the middle of the house he 

 presents oblations, with salutation to Brahma, to 

 the sky, and to the sun. Afterwards he offers similar 

 oblations to all the Gods ; to all beings ; to twilight ; 

 and to the lord of all beings. He then shifts the 

 sacrificial cord, and looking towards the south and 

 drpij^ping one knee, he presents an oblation to the 

 manes of ancestors, saying, " salutation to proge- 

 nitors : may this ancestral food be acceptable." 

 This ceremony^ is not constantly practised, though 

 directed in some rituals; but the residue of the ob- 

 lation 



abodes are the names of the seven worlds : and fire is called in the Fe'da 

 'saptachit'ica, which seems to allude to seven consecrated hearths. In the 

 sixteen verses called Paurusha, which have been already quoted, the 

 names of the seven worlds, thrice repeated, are understood to be meant 

 by the thrice seven fuels ; and the seven oceans are the seven moats 

 surrounding the alrar. Fire, like the sun itself, is supposed to emit 

 seven rays : this perhaps may account fox the number scren being so 

 bft'^'i repeated. 



