1885.] 
of Religion in the Himalaya. 
9 
mg rule lays down the period necessary for purification :— Brdhmano 
dasaratrena diuddasdhena hhumipah ; vaisyah panchadasdhena sudro masena 
sudhyati. “ The Brahman becomes pure in ten days, the Kshatriya in 
twelve days, the Vaisya in fifteen days and the Sudra in a month”. 
Ceremonies of the eleventh day. —After the usual domestic prayers, on 
the eleventh day the figures of Lakshmi and Narayana are worshipped and 
a covering spread for them on the charpai of the deceased and a cow offered 
inhis name as hapild-ddna. Next vessels of water ( JJdaha-humbha ) are fill¬ 
ed and food prepared in the name of the deceased. A bullock is also brand¬ 
ed on the flanks with the trident and discus and struck three times with 
the hand and then let go, # followed by the ehddasdha srdddha. The palm of 
the hand represents three tirtlias : the Brahma-tirtha is the hollow at the 
wrist through which the rinsing of the mouth is effected; the JDeva-tirtha 
is between the fingers sloping downwards and is used in offering water 
to the gods, and the Pitri-tirtha is the hollow between the thumb and 
first finger through which the water flows when offered to ancestors. 
For instance, in the worship of Lakshmi-Narayana, the water is presented 
through the Beva-Urtha. First the covering is placed on the charpai 
and on it the images with a dedication to the sure admission into paradise 
of the manes, and for this purpose the figures of the deities Lakshmi and 
Narayana are worshipped. The installation hymn to the deities then 
follows and offerings of rice, water, sandal, flowers, incense, lamps and 
wearing apparel are made. To this succeeds the dhydna or meditation 
in honour of Vishnu, who has in his right hand the lotus, in his left the 
conch, &c. ; then come appropriate gifts, according to the ability of the 
donor, which eventually become the property of a Brahman with the 
prayer that as S'iva and Krishna live in happiness and comfort, so may 
the deceased abide, and for this purpose all these good things have been 
provided. The purohita then lies down on the couch for a short time and 
so sanctifies the gifts that have been made whilst the verse is read : 
— Yasya smritya cha ndmohtyd tapoyajnahriyddishu nyunam sampurna- 
tdm yati sadyo vande tarn achyutam. —" That Aehyuta through whose re¬ 
membrance and invocation the shortcomings of my religious observances 
are supplemented, Him do I now adore.’ 
Gifts of a cow. —Next comes the hapila-ddna as before with the dedi¬ 
cation :—‘ 0 Kapila worshipped of all the four castes, best, containing all 
places of pilgrimages and deities alleviate my trouble.’ The water 
vessels are next presented and there should be one for every day in the 
year and each should be accompanied by food and lights for the same 
period for the benefit of the spirit of the deceasedf and then given 
* As a rule, however, this is a mere form and the irons are not heated. 
f As a rule the poor can only afford one. 
