Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 206

REMARKABLE INITIATORY PHRASES
166
much
noise as they can by striking gongs or anything
they can lay their hands on.
After his investiture the newly initiated member takes
part in what is known as the young men's feast \ which is
prepared for him and for other young Brahmins who have
recently been invested with the cord.
At the termination of the repast the young man again
seats himself on the raised platform of earth, facing the
east.
His father seats himself by his side, but with his
A cloth is then thrown
face turned towards the west.
over them, hiding them from the eyes of the assembly.
Again the women begin to sing, and the musicians to play.
Meanwhile the father is whispering in his son's ear the
secrets and mantrams which in his new position as a duly
as
else
It is
initiated Brahmin it is fitting for him to know.
said that the following remarkable words form part of the
discourse
:
my son, that there is only one God,
whom
the Creator, Lord, and Source of all things
every Brahmin should worship in secret. But know also
that this is a great mystery that must never be revealed
Should you ever reveal
to the vulgar and ignorant people.
it, surely great misfortune will fall upon you.'
These instructions, however, being given in Sanskrit, are
not likely to be understood by the youth in whose ears
they are uttered.
The Brahmins present then place akshatas, consecrated
by mantrams, on the head of their new colleague, and the
women perform the ceremony of aratti. Betel is afterwards
served out to the guests, who, after bathing, return for the
feast, which should on this day be on a particularly splendid
'
Remember,
who
is
;
and liberal scale.
The same evening, just when the lamps are being lighted,
parents and friends again assemble under the pa?idal, and
the newly initiated member seats himself on the earthen
dais once more.
The married women then go and fetcli
the pan containing the sacred fire, which is solemnly placed
The purohiia
beside him, much singing going on the while.
performs the sam-kalpa and recites mantrams over this fire,
1
In .Sanskrit kumara bhojunam.
Only Brahmacharis partake of this
each being presented also with a new cloth. Ed.
feast,