246 On the Funeral Ceremonies of the ancient Hindus. [No. 4, 



is meet for you, bear you away."* The commentator in explaining 

 the term Anashtapas'u " well-trained animals," attempts to include 

 in the text the slaves recommended by the Siltrakaras by the re- 

 mark " the human bearers are two-footed animals, and the two bul- 

 locks four-footed animals :" vahahdhmanush/ah dvipdt-pasavah anadva- 

 hau chatuspdtpasu. The second and the third mantras are, in 

 substance, very much bike the first, and call for no remark. 



A most important member of the funeral procession is an animal 

 called anustarani or rajagavi. An old cow is recommended as 

 the most appropriate, next a black one, next a black-eyed one, next 

 one with black hairs, and lastly one with black hoofs. If none of 

 these are available, a black tender-hoofed goat may be substituted. 

 As'valayana recommends an animal of one colour, or a black kid, and 

 says that it should be brought with a rope tied to the near fore- 

 foot. The animal is to be brought with the mantra, " Protector of 

 regions, this is an offering for thee."f An oblation is to be poured 

 on the fire in connexion with this offering with the idd or chamasa 

 spoon, saying, " May this prove acceptable to wealthy Agni.";J; 



According to the Sutrakaras, the cow should be sacrificed, but 

 should any accident happen at the time of the sacrifice, the fore 

 left foot is to be broken, and the wound being dressed with dust, 



* Mantra to be repeated at the end of the first stage. 

 Mantra to be repeated at the end of the second stage. 



" Pusha knows all these sides ; may he bear you away hence by the safest 

 road ; may he, who is beneficent, kind to us, and mighty against all, knowing 

 the road well, lead us without obstruction." 



Mantra to be repeated at the end of the third stage. 



^T^f^WT^j: tTfWJffr w?T tP*T <3T Vm sw£| ^ WTfT I ^TTSWW ^fiWT 



■ST3 ^ I WW *TT %sn ^ffWrTT TSJTrJ II « II 



" The life, the life of the world wishes to take charge of you. May Pusha, 

 leading, protect you in the difficult road ; may the divine sun, leading you by 

 the way of the virtuous, place you where the pious dwell." 



t -H^m w xt ^f^ : ii c ii 

 + ^rcre xf*rnT( ^rre t ii c ii 



