Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 278

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STRICT RULES OF HYGIENE
V. He will take care to hang his triple cord over his left
ear and to cover his head with his loin-cloth.
VI. He will stoop down as low as possible.
It would be
a great offence to relieve oneself standing upright or only
half stooping
it would be a still greater offence to do so
sitting on the branch of a tree or upon a wall.
VII. While in this posture he should take particular care
to avoid the great offence of looking at the sun or the moon,
the stars, fire, a Brahmin, a temple, an image, or one of
the sacred trees.
VIII. He will keep perfect silence.
IX. He must chew nothing, have nothing in his mouth,
and hold nothing on his head.
X. He must do what he has to do as quickly as possible,
:
and
rise immediately.
XI. After rising he will commit a great offence if he looks
behind his heels.
XII. If he neglects none of these precautions his act
will be a virtuous one, and not without merit
but if he
neglects any of them the offence will not go without
punishment.
XIII. He will wash his feet and hands on the very spot
with the water contained in the chembu which he brought.
Then, taking the vessel in his right hand, and holding his
private parts in his left hand, he will go to the stream to
purify himself from the great defilement which he has
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contracted.
XIV. Arrived at the edge of the river or pond where lie
purposes to wash himself, he will first choose a suitable
spot, and will then provide himself with some earth to be
used along with the water in cleansing himself.
XV. He must be careful to provide himself with the
proper kind of earth, and must remember that there are
several kinds which cannot be used without committing
an offence under these circumstances. Such are the earth
of white-ant nests
salt-earth
potters' earth
road-dust
bleaching earth
earth taken from under trees, from temple
enclosures, from cemeteries, from cattle pastures
earth
that is almost white like ashes earth thrown up from rat-
holes and such like.
XVI. Provided with the proper kind of earth, he will
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