﻿294 Oy THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES 



Bassia, are three sorts of intoxicatino; drinks : the 

 fourth is woman, by wliom this v/orld is deluded. 

 One, who contemplates a beautiful woman, becomes 

 intoxicated ; and so does he who quaffs an inebriat- 

 ing beverage : woman is called an inebriating 

 di aught, because she intoxicates by her looks." 

 To explain the second text, the same author quotes 

 a passage of the Veda, intimating that Brahma has 

 two mouths, one containing all holiness, the other 

 allotted for the production of ail beings, for they 

 are created froi]"* h.is moutli. " 



Ak I'tR the bridegroom has tasted the Madliuparca 

 presented to him, as above mentioned, the bride's 

 right hand is placed on his, both liaving been pre- 

 viously rubbetl with turmerick or some other auspi- 

 cious drug. A matron must bind both hands with 

 cun'a o'rass amidst the sound of cheerful musick. 

 To this part of the ceremony, the author of the poem 

 entitled Nmahada has very prettily alluded in de- 

 scribing the marriage of Nala and Damayaxt'i 

 (b. xvi. V. 13 & 14.) As he tasted the Mad'hu- 

 parca, which was presented to him, th(^se spectators, 

 who had foresight, reflected, " he has begun the 

 ceremonies of an auspicious day, because he will 

 quaff the honey of Bhaimi's lip. The bridegroom's 

 hand exults in the slaughter of foes ; the bride's 

 hand has purloined its beauty from the lotos ; it is 

 for that reason probably that, in this well-governed 

 realm of Viderbha, both [guilty] hands are fast 

 bound with strong cii./a." 



The bride's father, bidding the attendant priests 

 begin their acclamations, such as "happy day! 

 auspicious be it ! prosperity attend i blessings! &c. " 

 takes a vessel of Mater containing tila* and cus'alj' 

 grass; and pours it on the hinds of the bride and 

 bridegroom, after uttering the words, " (//w / tfit 



sat / ' 



* Sesamum Indicum. -^ Poa cy nosuroideS, 



