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



sumed that our text dates from at least eight centuries before the 

 Christian era. The allusions in the Bamayana and the Mahabha- 

 rata may, possibly, be interpolations, and if so, the Aranyaka may 

 be a century or two later, but that it was compiled long before the 

 advent of Alexander in India, and that Baudhayana nourished be- 

 fore Bharadvaja and Katyayana cannot be questioned. 



The sacrificial vessels which the defunct used to employ in his 

 ceremonial rites, are now to be placed on the different parts of his 

 body ; the Agni-hotra-havani, filled with butter and curds, on the 

 mouth ; the sruva spoon, broken into two, on the nostrils ; two bits 

 of gold or the butter spoon, (ajyasruva) broken into two, on the 

 eyes ; the prasitra-harana, broken into two, on the ears ; the 

 Icapala pot, broken into fragments, on the head ; a pot-sherd on the 

 forehead ; and, the chamasa spoon on the head. The mantra for 

 the purpose consists of a prayer to Agni not to injure the chamasa 

 spoon* AVvalayana arranges the sacrificial vessels differently ; he 

 places the juhu on the right hand, the wpalhrit on the left hand, 

 the sphya, sacrificial knife, on the right side, the Agnihotra-havani 

 on the left side, the grdvna on the teeth, the hapalas on the head, the 

 dhruvd on the breast, the srmia on the nostrils, the prasitra-harana 

 on the nostrils, the chamasa and the pdtri on the belly, the sami 

 on the genitals, the pestle and mortar on the lower part of 

 the thighs, the arani on the upper part of the thighs, the surpa on 

 the feet, and other vessels on the body as convenient. He says, 

 further, that the fat of the slaughtered cow should be placed on the 

 head and on the eyes with the mantra " Agni &c." and her kidneys 

 on the hands with the mantra " Ati" &c, her heart on the cardiac 

 region, and her flesh and organs on other parts of the body ; and 

 that, in the event of the cow being let loose, imitations of her 

 organs made with rice and barley meal, should be placed on the 

 parts mentioned ; the fat being replaced by cakes. The Aranyaka 



" Destroy not, Agni, this spoon ; it is dear to the Devas and the performers 

 of the Soma rites. This spoon is the drinking vessel of the Devas ; may the im- 

 mortal Devas therefore make us happy." 



