Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 260

INVOKING THE ANCESTORS
220
Then
conies the invocation of ancestors.
The couple
about to be married are seated on the earthen dais in the
centre of the pandal, having on each side of them their
fathers and mothers, all with their faces turned towards
the east.
The father
of the bride rises, places the pavitram
of his right hand, performs
amulet on the ring-finger
the sam-kalpa, and puts a certain quantity of rice in a
metal dish, and on this rice a cocoanut dyed yellow, three
areca-nuts in their shells, and five others without their
shells
1
.
Then, taking one of the nuts in one hand and the metal
dish in the other, he repeats three times in a loud voice
the names of his father, his grandfather, and his great-
grandfather.
Each time he pronounces their names he
raps the copper dish three times with the areca-nut, and
at last, again invoking them by name, he says
O my
ancestors, you who dwell in the pitraloka (or paradise of
ancestors), deign to come to this pandal, bringing with you
all the other ancestors who preceded you.
Be present,
I beseech you, during the five days of this marriage-feast,
preside at the festivity, and grant to it a happy termina-
tion
He then gives the rice, the cocoanut, and the
areca-nut which were on the dish to the purohita.
This done, the married women bring some fire on a new
earthen chafing-dish, and, singing, place it in the centre
of the pandal.
The purohita then consecrates it by scatter-
ing all round it some darbha grass.
To the north of it he
places some small pieces of the sacred fig-tree, by the side
of which are placed three small earthen vessels and one of
copper.
The first contains milk, the second liquefied
butter, the third curds, and the fourth a certain quantity
of cooked and uncooked rice mixed together.
To the
south of the brazier are spread nine portions of rice on
a large banana leaf. These are tastefully arranged in
squares, each portion being destined for one of the nine
Puja is done to each of these nine planets in-
planets.
dividually, and offerings of bananas and betel are made to
'
:
'
!
These various objects are an offering which he makes to his ancestors
It is always considered polite to
inviting them to the wedding.
offer a present to any distinguished guest whom you invite to any
ceremony. Dubois.
1
when