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hand. Thrice sipping water with the same text, preceded by the 

 same mysterious name of worlds, and each time rubbing his hands 

 as if washing them; and finally touching with his wet hand his feet 7 

 head, breast, eyes, ears, nose, and navel ; or his breast, navel, and both 

 shoulders; only (according to another rule) he should again sip water 

 three times, pronouncing to himself the expiatory text which recites 

 the creation. If he happen to sneeze or spit,he must not immediately 

 sip water, but first touch his right ear, in compliance with the 

 maxim, " after sneezing, spitting, blowing his nose, sleeping, put- 

 tine on apparel, or dropping tears, a man should not immediately 

 sip water, but first touch his right ear." " Fire," says Parasara, 

 " water, the Vedas, the sun, moon, and air, all reside in the right ear 

 of brahmanas. Ganga is in their right ears, sacrificial fire in their 

 nostrils, at the moment when both are touched impurity vanishes." 

 This will explain the practice of suspending the end of the sacer- 

 dotal string over the right ear, to purify that string from the defile- 

 ment which follows. an evacuation of urine. The sipping of water 

 is a requisite introduction of all rites; without it, says the Samba 

 Parana, all acts of religion are vain. Having therefore sipped 

 water as abovementioned, and passed his hand filled with water 

 briskly round his neck, while he recites this prayer, " May the 

 waters preserve me!" the priest closes his eyes, and meditates in 

 silence, figuring to himself that Brahma, with four faces and a red 

 complexion, resides in his navel; Vishnu, with four arms and a 

 black complexion, in his heart; and Siva, with five faces and a 

 white complexion, in his forehead. The priest afterwards meditates 

 the holiest of texts during three suppressions of breath. Closing 

 the left nostril with the two longest fingers of his right hand, he 



