94 
E. T. Atkinson —Notes on the history 
[No. 1, 
Samdvartana .—Next comes the samdvartana (returning home after 
finishing his studies) which commences with the gift of a cow to the 
celebrant. The boy takes hold of the cow’s tail with one hand and hold¬ 
ing water in the other repeats a short formula and gives the cow to the 
celebrant. There is in this rite also an altar or vedi, the consecration of 
which takes place exactly as in the previous rite. The father, son and 
celebrant approach the altar and the son coming forward and laying hold 
of his right ear with his left hand and his left ear with his right 
hand {vyastapdni) says, he has ceased to do evil and wishes to learn to 
do well. The celebrant answers “ may you have long life.” The cele¬ 
brant then asperses the boy and his relatives from the water of the uda- 
humblia or small vessel for holy-water usually placed near the kalasa, and 
subsequently takes whatever water remains and pours it through a metal 
sieve called sahasradhdrd on the head of the boy. These operations are 
each accompanied by a mantra, as also the taking ofi of the belt (jnehhala) 
and the applying of the tilaha to the twelve parts of the body :—(1) the 
forehead in which Kesava resides ; (2) the belly with Narayana; (3) 
the heart with Madhava; (4) the right side with Yishnu ; (5) the left side 
with Vamana ; (6) the hollow below the throat with Govinda ; (7) the 
right arm with Madhusiidana ; (8) the left arm with STidhara ; (9) the 
root of the ears with Trivikrama ; (10) the back with Padmanabha ; (11) 
the navel with Damodara, and (12) top of the head with Yasudeva. 
The boy then clothes himself, and the celebrant repeating appro¬ 
priate mantras directs the boy to remain pure for three whole days, i. e., 
not touching a Sudra or a dead body, &c. On the fourth day they again 
assemble, and the Jioma known as purndhuti is made, and again the 
entire ceremony of consecrating the graha-vedi is gone through as well as 
the worship of the nine planets and jivamdtris, and the boy’s sister or 
mother performs the maJidmrdjana (waving of lights) before him, and all 
winds up with the usual gifts and a feast. 
Vivdha-karma .—The ceremonies connected with marriage come next 
and occupy no inconsiderable place in the services. They include those 
arranged in the following five divisions :— 
(1) Agid-pujd ; clothing, perfuming and anointing the body ; the 
puroMta of the boy shall then ask the other the name and 
caste of the girl and communicate the same information 
regarding the boy. 
(2) Presentation of a cow and coin in honor of the girl: procession 
from the house to the agin-vedi. 
(3) Invitation to the father of the bride and formal conclusion of 
the arrangements; then circumambulation of the fire-altar 
aud performing the kusa-kandikd. 
