84 
E, T. Atkinson— Notes on the history 
[No. 1, 
northern corner of which a very simple miniature altar of three steps* 
known as the grahavedt is raised. On the top of the altar the figure of 
a lotus with eight petals is drawn and each petal is coloured to represent 
a planet, red for the sun ; white for the moon ; reddish-brown for Bhauma 
(Mars) ; whitish yellow for Budha (Mercury) ; yellow for Yrihaspat or 
Guru (Jupiter) ; white for Sukra (Yenus) ; black for SAnichara (Saturn) 
and for Balm (an eclipse) and brown for Ketu (a comet). For the other 
deities the intervals between the petals are used. Offerings of rice and 
curds are then made to each and the usual invitation, &c., are made. On 
the morning of the day after these preparations have been completed, the 
usual preparatory ceremonies already described are gone through, includ¬ 
ing the Nitya-Jcarma, Ganesa-p^y J, M^htri-puja, Ndndd,-sTdddha and Funyd- 
ha-vdchana. Then the person who causes the ceremony to be performed 
gives the tilaJca or frontal-mark to the purohita also the argJia, flowers, 
rice, sandal and presents of coin, ornaments and wearing apparel and 
requests him to preside at the ceremony.f The parents of the child with 
the celebrant and the assembled friends then march round the yajha-sdla 
to the sound of conches and other instruments and enter by the western 
door, when the ceremony of purifying the hall with the pancha-gavyo^ is 
again performed. To the south-west of the grahavedi a small homa-vedi 
or altar for burnt sacrifice is built and a fire is lighted thereon. 
The worship.- —The celebrant then performs the halasa-sthdpana and 
appoints the pradhdna-dipa or guardian of the lamp to stand in the east 
and prevent the lamps going out, lest the ceremony should be interrupted 
by sprites and goblins. The worship commences by the celebrant pre¬ 
senting to each leaf of the lotus on the graha-vedi, a piece of metal 
stamped with the conventional image of the particular planet to which 
the leaf is sacred. (Then the greatness of each planet is praised and 
litanies are read and each is invited to be present in the place assigned 
to it on the graha-vedi.) All face towards the sun and the figure of the 
sun towards the east. These are then addressed in the agnyuttdrana 
and then washed with the five amrita, each ingredient as it is ap¬ 
plied being accompanied by a separate mantra. Then cold water is 
offered and the dedication made with the hymn of praise to :—Omkara, 
* The lowest step is two finger-hreadths high and broad, the next is of the same 
height but four finger-breadths broad, and the last is four finger-breadths higher than 
the second and one cubit square at the top. 
f Arrangements are made in the ritual for the presence of the Acharya, Brah¬ 
man, Ritwika or prompter and Sadasya, but as a rule all these oifices are performed 
by one person. The ritual for this ceremony extends over eighty pages of my ma¬ 
nuscript and is said to occupy three days in recital: it need hardly be said that the 
full ritual is seldom or never gone through. 
