﻿OF THE HINDUS, kc. 293 



otlfO' interpretation of the te.vt, each docile person, ] 

 saying-, kill not the innocent harmless cow, who is 

 mother of Hud has, daughter of Vasus, sister of 

 A^DiTYAS, and the source of ambrosia." In the 

 Yajurveda the following piaycr is added to this text : 

 " Ma}^ she expiate my sins, and his (naming the 

 host.) Release her that she may graze." It is evi- 

 dent that the guest's intercessions imply a practice, 

 now become obsolete, of slaying a cow for the pur-^ 

 poses of hospitality. 



\FijiLE the bridegroom is welcomed with these 



ceremonies, or more properly before his arrival, the 



bride bathes during tlie recital of the following 



texts. Three vessels of water are severally poured 



on her head, with three different prayers. 1. " Love ! 



I know thy name. Thou art called an intoxicating 



beverage. Bring [the bridegroom] happily. For 



thee was framed the inebriating draught. Fire ! thy 



best origin is here. Through devotion wert thou 



created. I\Jay this oblation be efficacious." 2. 



" Damsel ! I anoint this thy generative organ with 



honey, because it is the second mouth of the 



Creator: by that thou subduest all males, though 



unsubdued; by that thou art lively, and dost hold 



dominion. May this oblation be efficacious." 3. 



" i\Iay the primeval ruling sages, v.'ho framed the 



female organ, as a fire that consumerfi flesh, and 



thereby framed a procreating juice, grant the pro- 



lifick power, that proceeds from the three-horned 



[bull] and from the sun. May this oblation be 



efficacious." To elucidate the first of these texts, 



the commentator cites the fcllowang passage : " The 



sao-e Vas'isut^'ha, the recent of the moon, the 



ruler of heaven, the preceptor of the Gods, and the 



great forefather of all beings, hov/ever old in the 



practice of devotion, and old by the progress of 



age, were deluded by women. Liquors distilled 



from sugar, from grain, and from the bio-ssoms of 



U 3 Bassia, 



