THE HINDU ALMANAC 135
If they have reason to expect a generous reward, they will start off at once, or at any rate they will send a son who is well versed in their ritual. Sometimes ordinary Brahmins pass themselves off as purohitas, especially amongst the Sudras, who are not very particular on this point. These interlopers are unacquainted with the formulas and correct mantrams, and so they mumble a few words of Sanskrit or some ridiculous and unintelligible sentences, believing
that this is quite good enough for stupid Sudras. But if the real purohitas, who from self-interest are always on the alert, discover that their prerogatives have been invaded
and their powers usurped, a violent quarrel ensues between them and their sacrilegious rivals.
One of the most valued privileges of the purohitas is the right of publishing the Hindu Almanac. The majority of them, being too ignorant to compile it, buy copies every year from those of their brethren who are sufficiently well
versed in astronomy to be able to calculate the eclipses and variations of the moon. It must be admitted that these learned Hindus, unacquainted as they are with the analytical operations which in Europe facilitate the computation of the movements of the stars, and having only the most ancient tables wherewith to assist their calculations, require an enormous amount of patience and concentrated attention to produce results which are in any degree trustworthy.
This almanac is an absolute necessity to every purohita,
since it tells him not only which are the lucky and unlucky constellations, and fortunate or inauspicious days, but also which are the propitious hours in each day; for it is only at these particular moments that the ceremonies can begin at which he is called on to preside. The Brahmins also draw inspiration from this book in predicting happy and unhappy events in life. Numbers of people come to conand enjoy the maniam in turn. The purohita is a Brahmin whose business it is to fix auspicious days for marriages, journeys, and undertakings generally. He presides at the marriage and funeral ceremonies of Sudras, but not at the marriage ceremonies of Brahmins. The Brahmin who presides at the latter is called upadhiaya. A purohita is sometimes called a panchangi, or one who has charge of the panchangam or almanac, not a very dignified office. Ed.