Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 286

RULES OBSERVED DURING MEALS
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a small portion of the rice and other dishes prepared for
him.
The following are the principal rules which he is enjoined
to observe while taking his meal
but for the most part
they are neglected
After his food has been served the Brahmin pours a little
water round the food, then traces a square patch with
a thin stream of water, puts a little rice in the middle,
and says
Glory to Narayana
sprinkling over it a few
drops of water.
He also places a little rice on each of
the corners of the square, saying successively
Glory to
Vishnu
Glory to the god of evil spirits (Siva)
Glory
to the god of the earth (Brahma)
Glory to the earth
repeating each time, I offer him this rice.'
On the rice
that he is going to eat he places either some leaves of the
tulasi ', or a few of the flowers that he offered in the
preceding sacrifice. He then traces a circular patch with
a thin stream of water, and puts some rice in the centre.
This is an offering to the evil spirits.
Pouring a little water into the hollow of his hand, he
drinks it as a foundation for the meal he is about to make.
He takes a little rice soaked in melted butter and puts it
into his mouth, saying
Glory to the wind which dwells
in the chest
At the second mouthful, Glory to the
wind which dwells in the face
At the third, Glory to
the wind which dwells in the throat
At the fourth,
Glory to the wind which dwells in the whole body
At the fifth, Glory to those noisy ebullitions which escape
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above and below
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Sannyasis, penitents, and widows may not eat anything
in the evening.
Should they do so they w ould be guilty
of a crime equal to that of killing a Brahmin.
The most
minute attention must be paid to food but the chief point,
and the most laudable without doubt, is to see that the
cooking is done with perfect cleanliness. This duty gener-
ally devolves on the women, though most Brahmins pride
themselves on being good cooks. The room set apart for
cooking operations is, as far as possible, the most retired
room in the house, so that strangers, and particularly
Sudras, may not be able to look in, as that would defile
The basil plant, Ocimum sanctum, Ei>.
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