Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 192

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RITE OF THE PANCHA-GAVTA
they perform puja, and for neiveddya they offer jaggery
(raw sugar) and betel. They then throw a little sandal-
wood powder and akshatas into the copper vessel, while
reciting appropriate mantrams, with the intention of turn-
ing the water which it contains into the sacred water of
the Ganges. Finally they offer a sacrifice to the vessel,
and for neiveddya they offer bananas and betel. The water
thus sanctified purifies places and persons that have become
unclean.
Pancha-gavia.
have already explained of what disgusting materials
This is
the mixture known by this name is composed.
The house is purified
the way in which it is consecrated.
They then bring five little new earthen
in the usual way.
vessels, into one of which they put milk, into another curds,
into a third liquefied butter, into a fourth cow-dung, and
These five little vessels
into the fifth the urine of a cow.
are then placed in a row on the ground on some darbha
grass, and they perform puja in the following manner
First, they make a profound obeisance before the deity
pancha-gavia, and they meditate for some time on his
Some flowers are placed on
merits and good qualities.
the five vessels, and for asana they make the god an imagi-
nary present of a golden seat or throne. They then offer
to each vessel, as arghya, a little water, which is poured
round them. For padya, a little more water is poured
out for them to wash their feet, and achamania is offered
immediately afterwards in the same way. The snana-jala
is water in which a little garika grass has been steeped,
which is presented to the god pancha-gavia, to enable him
The tops of the vessels are then
to perform his ablutions.
covered with akshatas, while they are presented, in imagina-
tion of course, with jewels, rich garments, and sandal-
wood. In conclusion they offer them flowers, incense, a
lighted lamp, bananas, and betel as neiveddya, and finally
make another profound obeisance.
These preliminaries ended, the officiating priest addresses
the following prayer to the god pancha-gavia, or, what is
the same thing, to the substances contained in the five
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