276 SKETCH OF THE 



ceremonies. This is not the case in Upper India, and the only rites fol- 

 lowed are the Initiation of the infant, twelve days afterbirth by repeating 

 a Mantra over it, and making a circular mark with the sandal and perfumes 

 on the top of the head : Marriage and Cremation, which are much the 

 same as those of the Brahmans, omitting the Mantras of the Vedas. 

 Srdddhas, obsequial ceremonies at stated periods, are not performed by 

 the Jains in Upper Hiudustan. 



The festivals of the Jains are peculiar to themselves, and occur 



especially on days consecrated by the birth or death of some of the principal 



Tirthankaras, especially the two last Pdrswandth and Verddhamana : 



the places where these events occurred are also objects of pilgrimage, 



and very numerous assemblages of devout pilgrims occur at them at 



different seasons — thus in Behar, a very celebrated place of resort is the 



scene of Pdrsiuaridttis liberation ; the mountain Samet Sikhara, or Paras- 



ndth, near Pachete ; * and another of equal sanctity, the scene of 



Verddliamdna s departure from earth, is at Pdpapuri, f in the same 



province. Pilgrims come from all parts of India to these places at all 



seasons, but the principal Melas are held at the former in Mdgh, and in 



Kdrlika, at the latter. On the western side of India, the mountains of 



Abu, \ and Girinar, are the great scenes of pilgrimage, being covered 



with Jain temples and remains. Rishabha Deva and Neminath seem to 



be the favourite divinities in that quarter. 



* Described very fully, as previously noticed in the Quarterly Magazine for December, 1827. 



f It is also written Apdpapuri and Pavapuri, under which latter name, it and other celebrated 

 Jama shrines in Behar, are described by a Native traveller, a Jain, in the service of Colonel 

 Mackenzie, in the Calcutta Magazine for June, 1823. 



t See Asiatic Researches, vol. XVI. Jain Inscriptions at Abu. 



