Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 261

THE MUHURTA CEREMONY
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as neiveddya, after which they receive the same
invitation as the gods and the ancestors.
The purohita places on the east side of the brazier another
banana leaf, on which he spreads darbha grass and akshatas.
This is an offering to Brahma, to whom is presented a
Then follows the invoca-
neiveddya of raw sugar and betel.
tion of the ashta-dik-palakas, or the eight divine guardians
and puja is offered them
of the eight corners of the world
on the same banana leaf. Then comes the inauguration
of the ishta-devata or tutelary deity, and the deification of
the five little pots in the manner that has already been
described for the upanayana.
These ceremonies ended, the father of the girl performs
the homam in honour of Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra, of
the eight gods who guard the eight compass-points of the
world, of the eight Vasus, and of Indra, taking care to
mention all these gods by name, and also to repeat man-
trams suitable to the occasion. He again does homam to
the nine planets, makes a sacrifice to fire, and offers the
latter some liquefied butter as neiveddya.
new earthen chafing-dish is then brought, to which
they fasten a piece of saffron thread, and on it is placed
the consecrated fire.
Women carry this fire away to a
place apart, singing, of course, the while.
Great care is
taken not to let the fire go out till the end of the festivity.
It would be considered a terribly bad omen if, through
negligence or any other cause, it should be extinguished.
Now comes the muhurta, that is to say, the most essential
ceremony of the marriage. To begin with, a sacrifice is
The bride and bridegroom are
offered to Vigneshwara.
seated on the earthen dais, their faces towards t