No. 26.— 1883.] PADDY CULTIVATION CUSTOMS. 



53 



Ihala vele tibcna bttat 

 Pahala vele tibena betat 

 Atu-kotu-vala tibena betat 

 Eda puravan me kamatata. 



O sweet grain-cock ! O tembili-lmed oxen ! 

 Place creeper (yokes) on (their) heads. 

 May the paddy in the upper fields— 



The paddy in the lower fields — 



The paddy in lofts and barns — 

 Be drawn to fill this kamata. 



As high as Mecca's sacred foot, 



As high as SamaDala's sacred foot ! 



Ashes are given him at once and with them he lays three 

 lines, one above another, round the grain. Two other culti- 

 vators next join him in placing five or six empty bags a-piece, 

 mouths in front, on their heads, and walk thrice round the 

 paddy, bowing to it each time at the four corners of the 

 mats. Two or three men then cautiously open just enough 

 of the mat covering the paddy heap to allow of their hands 

 being introduced, and briskly fill the bags which are handed 

 to them from behind. Meanwhile the principal goyiyd 

 remains kneeling on the opposite side with his fore-head 

 resting on the grain, and repeats the Namguna-gdthdwa : — 



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Iti piso bhagavd arahan sammd sambuddho 

 vijjdcharana sampanno sugato loka vidu 

 anuttaro purusadhamma sdrathi satthd deva 

 manussdnan Buddho bhagavdti. 



Lo ! that Blessed One is sanctified, is fully enlightened, endowed 

 with knowledge and conduct, the Auspicious One, acquainted 

 with the world, the unrivalled trainer of the human steer, the 

 Instructor of gods and men, the Wise One, the Holy. 



Silence is strictly enjoined throughout the performance of 

 the amdhte ceremony until the paddy has been put into 

 bags, all requirements being indicated by motions of head 

 and hand. 



