1881.] 
Sarat Chandra Das —Contributions on Tibet. 
107 
these there did not then exist any other theories or works concerning the 
Bon religion. In (some historical works such as) the Gyalrab and Chhoi-jun 
the owner. When a cook-house containing a hearth is so defiled, the owner must im¬ 
mediately cleanse it out ; the ground which held the hearth should he dug out and 
thrown into water, in default of which the demons and the gods of the middle region, 
“ Sa-dag” (or Nagas), become annoyed and punish the owners or defilers with 
the disease of leprosy. In order to escape such punishment, that is, to he cured of 
leprosy, the patient goes to a male or female Bon priest in quest of a remedy. He 
requests him or her to examine his fortune; the priest of course attributes the disease 
to defiling of the hearth, and requests the patient to recollect the places where he ever 
cooked food or boiled anything. The names of all those places being given, the 
priest casts lots and finds out the right place and arranges for the ceremonies of 
cleansing the defiled hearth. Not all priests can claim to perform the ceremony, 
but the patient invites the priests of the country who assemble in an open place and 
cast lots to find out what particular priest would be acceptable to the “ Sa-dag” for the 
purpose of officiating at the ceremony. The fortunate man being picked out, the 
service commences. He strictly abstains from the use of spirits and meat for the 
time being, as the “ Sa-dag” are prejudiced against their use. The priest now invokes 
his tutelary deity called Kah-bab, and Thab-lha the god of the hearth, who, by turns tak¬ 
ing possession of his body, lead him to the particular spot where lies the defiled hearth. 
Arrived at the spot he plants his arrow-flag called “Hah-dar.” As soon as this is 
finished, the spirits withdraw and the priest comes to his senses, when he inquires from 
those around him what inspired sayings he had given out. Being told every detail 
of the affair, he goes on to conduct the usual prescribed ceremonies. He or she 
(female priests are preferred) then in an authoritative tone summons the eight demi¬ 
gods (gods, nagas, yakshas, demons, genii, Pehar Gyalpo, mischievous female spirits 
called Mamos, and malignant planets such as the Indian Rahu) and tells them—“I, ac¬ 
cording to the command of S'en-rab mipo the lord of the Bon religion, am conducting 
this ceremony. Ye all listen to what I say :—I shall just cleanse the polluted hearth 
of its defilement, in which work I exhort you all to help me. Remember, that I act 
like a tool in your hands, all success rests on your ingenuity. Wherefore be kind and 
paerciful to me!” He now chants the usual mantras and conducts the ceremony. 
When the first part of the service is over, he invokes his own Kah-bab, together 
with Thab-lha the god of the hearth, saying, “ 0 Kah-bab &c., my appointed friends and 
guardians, and ye hosts of ancestors, vouchsafe me your aid at this critical time. 
If I fail in my object, disgrace shall fall on me and also on you all who favour me !” 
He concludes his invocation by a threat, saying, ‘ ‘ if you do not make me successful, 
I shall henceforth withhold the paying of reverence and offerings to you all.” He 
then finishes the service by ordering a host of diggers to dig out the spot indicated^ 
to the depth of about 8 or 10 feet. He briskly walks round the ditch, his heart 
beating with the fear of missing the ball hid in the polluted ground. When the proper 
pioment arrives the Kah-bab and Thab-lha by turns inspire him, when he throws 
himself into the bottom of the ditch in a senseless state and picks out the polluted 
ball. The Kah-bab having immediately withdrawn, the priest regains his senses and 
produces the ball before all who remain present and breaks it to examine the contents. 
If a living or dead larva of an insect of any kind is found within it, the operation is 
considered successful, otherwise not. If the ball be empty, the leper’s case is considered 
hopeless, since the devil, born as a larva within the defiled ground soon after the 
