In Hindu Literature 227 



Honey-colored, or resembling honey in purity and pellu- 

 cidity, is a comparison more than once met with in the 

 " Vedas," as in one of the hymns to the Maruts, the storm- 

 gods or winds. 



" When, Maruts, flying like birds along a certain path of 

 the sky, you collect the moving, passing clouds in the near- 

 est portions of the firmament, then, coming into colhsion 

 with your cars, they pour forth the waters ; therefore, do 

 you shower upon your worshipper the honey-colored rain." 

 Honey played an important part in the religious observ- 

 ances of our Aryan forefathers, as we learn from the " Vedas " 

 and from the " Sutras," or rituals for domestic ceremonies. 

 Replete with poetry is that part of the marriage ceremony 

 where the husband reciting the Vedic verse " Full of honey 

 the herbs/' ties to the body of his bride the madhuka 

 flowers. 



And again, where the newly married husband kisses his 

 wife : — 



" He then seeks her mouth with his mouth, with the two 

 verses, — 



"'Honey! Lo ! Honey! This is honey! my tongue's 

 speech is honey ; in ray mouth dwells the honey of the 

 bee ; on my teeth dwells concord.' " 



Honey plays an important part in the ceremonies per- 

 formed over a new-born child, as is shown by the com- 

 mands of the " Sutras " : — 



" Let the father mix together butter and honey, milk, 

 curds and water, or grind together rice and barley, and 

 give it to eat to the child twice from gold (i. e., from a 

 golden vessel or with a golden spoon)." 



While touching the tongue of the child with this food the 

 father repeats the verse, — 



" I administer to thee honey food for the festival, the 

 wisdom raised by Savitar the bountiful; long-living, pro- 



