

2.50 On the Funeral Ceremonies of the ancient Hindu*. [No. 1, 



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 A'ranvaka may 

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

 advent of Alexander in India, and that Baudhavana flourished be- 

 fore Bharadvaja and KatA-ayana 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-harani, filled with butter and curds, on the 

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

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

 eyes ; the prdsitra-karana, 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 lor 

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

 spoon.* As valayana arranges the sacrificial vessels differently ; he 

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

 the spliya, sacrificial knife, on the right side, the Agnihotra-ha 

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

 dhruvd on the breast, the sruva on the nostrils, the prdsitra-haran* 

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

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

 the thighs, the arani on the upper part of the thighs, the %urpa on 

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

 further, that the fat of the slaughtered cow should be placed oil 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 j may the im- 

 mortal Devas therefore make us happy." 



