Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 209

THE TRIPLE CORD IN OTHER CASTES
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enormous outlay which their childish vanity has
caused them to incur.
Before separating, all the guests, both men and women,
for the
accompany the new Brahmin, who is seated in an open
palanquin, richly ornamented, on a solemn procession
through the streets. On their return, the women, in songs,
tell him of all the prayers that they have offered for his
future happiness, and they wind up the feast by the cere-
mony of aratti. As for the new Brahmin, he must be
careful to perform the homam, evening and morning, for
the next thirty days.
Such are the formalities which accompany the most
important and solemn event in a Brahmin's life. As we
have remarked already, it is not by birth alone that a
Brahmin is superior to other men. It is this regenerating
ceremony which gives him a new existence and makes him
worthy to be elevated in his capacity as a dvija, or twice-
born (bis genitus), to the sublime status of his ancestors.
All this long ceremonial, besides many other foolish
trifles which I have not thought worth mentioning, is
strictly obligatory.
Were a single detail omitted, the
whole community would raise a chorus of protest. It
would be labour lost to endeavour to discover the origin
Some few traces of it might be dis-
of these ceremonies.
but assuredly no other
covered in the old pagan times
nation in the world has preserved so completely the minutest
details of its ancient superstitions.
Some other Hindus share with the Brahmins the honour
They are the Jains, the Ksha-
of wearing the triple cord.
triyas or Rajahs, the Vaisyas, and even the Panchalas.
Rajahs receive the cord from the hands of a Brahmin
but the only ceremony necessary on this occasion
purohita
The new member then gives
is the sacrifice called homam.
a great feast to the Brahmins to celebrate the event, but
he is not allow ed to be present himself and further, he
Before they depart
also distributes gifts amongst them.
he is admitted to their presence, and performs the sash-
tanga, perhaps in token of gratitude for the honour they
have done him, or else merely to abase himself before
these gods of the earth.'
If the Hindu books are to be believed, the Brahmins
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