Page images
PDF
EPUB

make him offerings in which they are interested; for, they present him with that which they defire the year may return to them an hundred fold, fuch as fruits, rice, and beetel, but no money. The brahmin afterwards makes the facrifice, which confifts in burning several pieces of wood before the vase, which he only has the right to throw into the fire, one after another, and at those moments which are engaged during the prayer he recites. After this ceremony, the brahmin takes his leave of the deity with another prayer.

OF DIBARADANÉ.

The Dibaradané, or offering of fire, is also a daily ceremony in honour of the gods, and makes part of the Pooja. The brahmin who officiates holds in one hand a small bell, which he founds; and, in the other, a copper lamp full of butter: he makes it pass and repass round the statue of the god he worships. During this time, the bayaderes dance and fing his praises; after which, the affiftants in contemplation, with hands joined, addrefs their vows to the idol. The brahmin then breaks the garland with which the idol is adorned,

dorned, diftributes the fragments to the people, and receives from them the offerings they have brought to the divinity.

OF THE ABICHEGAM.

The Abichegam makes a part of the Pooja :• this ceremony confifts in pouring milk on the Lingam. This liquor is afterwards kept with great care, and some drops are given to dying people, that they may merit the delights of the Calaion. We find traces of the Abichegam in the earliest antiquity. The primitive race of men had a kind of facrifice called Libation, which was made in pouring out fome liquor, but especially oil, in honour of the divinity. It was alfo ordained in the written law.

The Indians have preferved this cuftom, not only in respect to the Lingam, but also in honour of their other deities. They actually offer them libations, wash them with cocoanut-oil, melted butter, or water of the Ganges. They always rub them with oil or butter when they address prayers, or present offerings to them; fo that all their idols are black, fmoaked, plastered, and foiled with a fetid greafe.

[blocks in formation]

OF SANDIVANE.

The Sandivane is a ceremony which the brahmins alone make daily to the gods in general; and, in the morning particularly, to *Brahma, as the author of their origin. At fun-rife, they go and take water out of a tank, with the hollow of their hand, which they throw.fometimes before and fometimes behind them, and over their shoulder, invoking Brahma, and pronouncing his praises; by which they are purified and made worthy of his favours. They afterwards throw water to the fun, to testify their thanks and their respect, that he has had the goodness to appear and chace away the shades of darkness: they then finish purifying themselves by bathing. This kind of worship was established, in honour of the great Creator of all things, by the first race of mortals, and the Indians have always inviolably adhered to it.*

OF

*The ancient priests of Egypt in like manner purified themselves by bathing in the morning, and plunging into the facred waters.of the Nile. A worship they might have received from the Indians.

OF DARPENO N.

The Darpenon is instituted in honour of the dead. The Indians, after having purified themselves by bathing, fit down before a brahmin, who recites prayers; when the brahmin has finished praying, he pours water with a small copper vase called chimbou, into one of their hands, which they present to him open and leaning towards him; he then throws, on the fame hand, leaves of the plant herbé and grains of gengely, naming the perfons for whom he prays. These prayers are made to Dewtahs, who are protectors of the dead.

OF NAGAPOOJA.

The term Nagapooja fignifies worship of the fnake: women are commonly charged with this ceremony. On certain days of the year, when they choose to perform it, they gọ to the banks of thofe tanks where the Arichi and Margofier grow: they place under these trees a stone figure, reprefenting a Lingam between two snakes: they bathe themselves,

and,

and, after ablution, they wash the Lingam, and burn before it fome pieces of wood particularly affigned for this facrifice, throw flowers upon it, and afk of it riches, a numerous pofterity, and a long life to their husbands. It is faid in the Saftras, that when the ceremony of Nagapooja is made according to the form prescribed, what is afked is always obtained.* When they have finished their prayers, they leave the stone on the place, never carrying it back to the house it ferves for the fame ufe to all women who find it. If there is neither Arichi or Margofier on the bank of the tank, they carry a branch of each of these trees, which they plant for the ceremony on each fide of the Lingam, and make a canopy over it. The Indians look upon the Arichi as the male, and the Margofier as the female; though these trees are of a very different species from each other."+

This account of M. Sonnerat, however accurate, is by no means fufficiently comprehenfive. The general Pooja is still more minutely described, with all the accompanying circumftances,

* However whimsical this worship may appear, we see it established among all the ancients; and the moderns have enlarged upon them.

+ Sonnerat's Voyages, vol. i. p. 163.

« PreviousContinue »