1884.] E. T. Atkinson — Religion in the Himalaya. 43 



siyas, as the people of Kumaon are called by their neighbours, possess 

 many traits in common with the Dasyas of the Vedas. Practically they 

 have no Vedas, no Yaidik rites, and their sacrifices and caste observances 

 are not in accordance with orthodox usage. It was these distinctions 

 that placed them fifteen hundred years ago outside the pale of the twice- 

 born and which even under the more liberal views of the present day 

 hold them outcastes. 



The domestic ritual for all purposes from birth to marriage is then 

 given in some detail from the Dasakarmddi-paddhati, the authority in use 

 in the Kumaon Himalaya, and the funeral ceremonies from the Preta- 

 manjari. First of all the sandhyd, or daily prayers in local use, are de~ 

 scribed in such detail as it is believed has not yet been attempted. These 

 open with the rinsing of the mouth, the sprinkling and aspersion, and 

 proceed to the kara-nydsa and anga-nydsa with their muaras and mantras 

 clearly derived from the Tantras and other than Brahmanical sources. 

 It is shown that the forms used are common alike to Buddhism and to 

 S'ivaism and are to be found in the present practices of Tibetan Buddhists 

 as well as in those of Musalman converts from the aboriginal tribes. The 

 ceremonies to be observed in the following services are then given : — 

 Svasti-vdchana, Ganesa-puja, Mdtri-puja,Ndndi-srdddha, Puny aha- vdchana, 

 Kalasa-sthdpana and Eakshd-vidhdna. Next follow the Jdta-karma on the 

 birth of a son and the Shashthi-mahotsava: then the Ndmakarana or naming 

 the child: Janmotsava or anniversary of birth and the Jcarnavedha or piercing 

 of the ear. The observances in honour of the nine planets and those when 

 the hair is cut (cliuraharana) and the janeo or sacred thread is put on 

 are followed by those relating to marriage and some of the numerous 

 special services for particular occasions : altogether affording a tolerably 

 complete view of the domestic ritual in use in the Kumaon Himalaya. 

 The funeral ceremonies include those for the dying and for cremation, 

 and all the purificatory usages after cremation for the first twelve days. 



This paper will be published in full in the Journal, Pt. I. 



