1884.] 
of Religion in the Himalaya. 
65 
gjaddhati, or ‘ Manual of the ten rites, &c.,’ which is held in great esteem 
in this portion of the Himalaya. It gives the ritual to be observed on 
every occasion from the conception of the native until his marriage. 
Each ceremony has certain preparatory services common to all, and which 
occupy the first ten chapters of the Manual, viz. : —(1), 8vasti-vdchana ; 
(2), Ganesa-pujd; (3), Mdtri-gmjd ; (4<), Ndndi-srdddha ; (hf PuJiyaha- 
vdchana; (6), Kalasa-sthdpana; ( 7 ), Rahshd-viddidna; (8), Ghri~ 
tacliclilidyd ; Kitsa-kandiJcd; and (10), K.usa-Jcandiko]yayogisangralia. 
In practice, however, the ceremony is shortened by the omission of several 
of these services and, as a rule, the second, third and fourth chapters 
with the sixth and seventh are alone read. With regard to these and 
all other observances their length and character would seem to depend 
on the means and inclination of the person who causes the ceremony to 
be performed. The poor man obtains a very shortened service for his 
few coins, whilst the wealthy can command the entire ritual and the 
services of numerous and skilled celebrants. The rich can afford to keep 
Brahmans in their employment who vicariously perform for them all the 
intricate and tedious ceremonies prescribed by the ritual and at once 
relieve their masters from a disagreeable duty and ensure for them the 
fruits of a devout life. It will be seen, however, that the earlier chap¬ 
ters form a necessary part of the ritual of every important ceremony and 
are repeated numbers of times at different stages. They are referred 
to hereafter as the ‘ preparatory ceremonies ’ and are closed with a sanhal- 
gja or dedication to the particular object in view at the time, so that 
the merit acquired by performing them may aid in the attainment of the 
object aimed at. 
Daily prayers. —Before commencing an account of the ceremonies 
proper to particular objects and seasons it will be convenient to refer here 
to those known as nitya karma or obligatory, to be observed at morn, noon 
and eve. The necessities of every-day life, however, contrive that one 
recital before taking food, either in the morning or in the evening, shall 
be considered sufficient, and we shall now describe the morning service, 
which with a few slight changes serves for all. It need hardly be said 
that these are unknown to the ordinary Khasiya population, except here 
and there in a very diluted form. The usual morning routine is first 
gone through by drawing up the sacrificial thread and placing it on the 
left ear before retiring, next washing the teeth, bathing and applying the 
frontal marks with powdered sandal, or red sandars and rice. 
Achamana. —The sanddvyd or office of domestic worship then com¬ 
mences and is opened by placing some water in the hollow of the right- 
hand from which a sup is taken (ach,ama7ia) whilst mentally repeating 
the mantra :—‘ Qjn, to the Pdg-veda, haila second is then taken with 
I 
