Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 178

THE PUROHITAS
138
Most Hindu writers mention them, and,
if they are to
believed, the highest honours were paid to these
Brahmins in times gone by.
They and the gurus share
the duty of preserving intact the ancient customs, and it
is they who are loudest in condemning those who violate
be
them.
To them also is due the credit of having preserved from
destruction all the books of history or of science that have
survived the revolutions by which the country has been
so often convulsed.
All the purohitas are married, and I believe this to be
obligatory, in order that they may minister in Brahmins'
houses.
A widower would not be admitted, as his very
presence would be considered sufficient to bring mis-
fortune \
CHAPTER
Mantrams.
— Their
Efficacy.
— The
XII
Gayatri.
— The
word 'Aum.'
— Magic
Mantrams.
These famous mantrams, which the Hindus think so
much of, are nothing more than prayers or consecrated
formulas, but they are considered so powerful that they
can, as the Hindus say, enchain the power of the gods them-
selves.
Mantrams are used for invocation, for evocation,
or as spells.
They may be either preservative or destruc-
tive, beneficent or maleficent, salutary or harmful.
In
fact, there is no effect that they are not capable of pro-
ducing.
Through them an evil spirit can be made to take
possession of any one, or can be exorcised.
They can
inspire with love or hate, they can cause an illness or cure
it, induce death or preserve life, or cause destruction to
a whole army. There are mantrams which are infallible
for all these and many other things besides.
Fortunately
one mantram can counteract the effect of another, the
stronger neutralizing the weaker.
The purohitas are more familiar with these mantrams
than any other class of Hindus but all Brahmins are
supposed to be acquainted at any rate with the principal
;
1
This
is
only partially applicable nowadays.
Ed.