ft* 



892 



Bajendralala Mitra — An Imperial Assemblage 



[No. 3, 



of the Sarasvati river, (Sarasvati) ; 2nd, water from a pool or river while 

 in a state of agitation from the fall of something into it, (Kallola) ; 3rd, 

 water disturbed by the passage of an army over a ford (Vrisasend) ; 4th, 

 water taken during an ebb tide, (Arthetd) ; 5th, water taken during a 

 flood tide (Ojashvati) ; 6th, water from the point of junction of two 

 streams produced by a sandbank in a river (Parivdhini) ; 7th, sea- water 

 (Apdmpati) ; 8th, water from a whirlpool (AjodngarbJid) ; 9th, water 

 from a pool in a river where there is no current, (Surgatvah) ; 10th, 

 rain water which falls during sunshine, (Surgavarchchas) ; 11th, tank 

 water (Mdndd) ; 12th, well-water, (Vraj alcshitd) ; 13th, dew-drops col- 

 lected from the tops of grass blades, (Vdsd) ; 14th, honey (SavisTithd) / 

 15th, liquor amnion, (S'aJcvari) ; 16th, milk (Janabhrit) ; 17th, clarified 

 butter, (Visvabhrit) ; 18th, water heated by exposure to the sun, (Svardt.) 

 These waters were collected at proper seasons and opportunities, and 

 kept in reserve in pitchers near the northern altar. On the day of the 

 ceremony eighteen small vessels made of the wood of the Ficus glomerata 

 (Udumbara) or of the Ca lamas rotang (vetasa) were provided, and the 

 Adhvaryu, proceeding to the first pitcher, drew some water from it into 

 one of the vessels while repeating the mantra, " O honeyed water 

 whom the Devas collected, thou mighty one, thou begotten of kings, 

 thou enlivener ; with thee Mitra and Varuna were consecrated, and 

 Indra was freed from his enemies ; I take thee." He next drew 

 some water from the second pitcher, with the mantra " O water, thou art 

 naturally a giver of kingdoms, grant a kingdom to my Yajamana so and 

 so (naming the king)", and then poured into the vessel butter taken four 

 times in a ladle, a mantra being repeated to consecrate the operation of 

 pouring. In this way all the eighteen vessels being filled and consecrated 

 in due form, their contents were all poured into a large bucket made of 

 the same wood, while repeating the verse, " O honeyed and divine ones, 

 mix with each other for the promotion of the strength and royal vigour of 

 our Yajamana." The mixture was then removed to the altar opposite the 

 place of Mitravaruna. The bucket being thus placed, six offerings were made 

 to the six divinities, Agni, Soma, Savita, Sarasvati, Pusha, and Vrihas- 

 pati. Two slips of Kusa grass were next taken up, a bit of gold was tied to 

 each, and the slips thus prepared were then dipped into the bucket, and a 

 little water was taken out with them, and sprinkled on the king while 



water, drop in it a small quantity of one of the articles in the order above named, and 

 lastly to pour the mixture on the reflected image, through a rosehead called sata- 

 jhara, similar to the gold vessel with a hundred perforations described above. This 

 symbolical bathing is found expedient to prevent the paint, and polish of the idols 

 being soiled and tarnished. In the case of unbaked idols the necessity for it is im- 

 perative, and the bathing is more simple, summary and expeditious* 



