102 
[No. 1, 
E. T. Atkinson —IicJiyurn m. the IlinidJaya. 
is selected and purified either with holy-water (t, e., water which has 
been consecrated by using the names of the sacred places of pilgrimage) 
or the mixture called pancJia-gfwya. To the south-west a hollow is made 
and a fire is lighted therein, and this is followed by the ritual contained 
in the formal appointment of the Brahman to the aspersion. An altar is 
then made, and on the top a lotus of twenty-four petals is drawn and 
coloured and named as described below.'*' 
A handsome metal vessel is then placed in the midst of the figure 
and four other vessels are placed one at each corner of the principal altar. 
A figure of Nirriti stamped on metal is placed in the centre of the altar 
on its vessel and small pieces of gold, silver and copper on the other 
vessels after having been washed with the five nectars applied with the 
usual mantras. Next comes the address to Nirriti prefaced by the 
vydkriti mantra :—‘ Come hither and remain here 0 Nirriti mistress of the 
Mula-nakshatm, grant our requests and accept our reverence.’ Her 
companions and the twenty-four deities residing in the petals of the lotus 
are similarly invited with the same fermula. 
Three of the vessels are dedicated to Brahma, Yaruna and the nine 
planets who are invited to attend. Then the medidation on Nirriti and 
the deities to whom the altar is dedicated follows :—‘ Nirriti, black in 
colour, of beautiful face, having a man as thy vehicle, protectress, having 
a sword in thy hand, clad in shining robes adorned with jewels.’ A 
similar short meditation on Indra and Toya is given and for the remain- 
ino’ deities, the recital of their names is held sufficient. Nirriti then 
receives the formal invitation, &c., with the mantra :—‘ 0)n mosliuna^' 
&c., wdiilst the others are merely named. Then those deities invited to 
occupy the three vessels above named receive the invitation, &c., and 
commencing with Nirriti all are in order worshipped with flowers, sandal 
and water. The vessel placed to the north-east of the altar is dedicated 
to Budra, and on it are laid the five varieties of svastika and below it, a 
drona of grain. On the covered mouth of the vessel the image of Budra 
* The name on the petals is that of the initial letters of the nakshatra or lunar 
mansion, above which is the name of the regent of the mansion and below the colour 
which should be given to it. The names in order commencing with the mansion over 
which the Visvadevas preside are as follows :— 
1. Uttara-Asharha. 
2. Sravana. 
3. Dhanishtha. 
4. S'ata-bhishaj. 
5. Purva-bhadrapada. 
6. Uttara-bhadrapada. 
7. Pevati. 
8. Asvini. 
9. Pharani. 
10. Krittika. 
11. Pohini. 
12. Mriga-siras. 
13. Ardra. 
14. Punarvasu. 
15. Tishya. 
16. Aslesha. 
17. Magha. 
18. Purva-phalguni 
19. Uttara-phalguni. 
20. Hasta. 
21. Chitra. 
22. Svati. 
23. Yi^kha. 
24. Anuradha. 
25. Jyeshtha. 
26. Miila.' 
27. Purvasharha. 
? Tn the 
middle. 
