Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 300

THE VYAHRITI
260
bear the engine of the world, and carry the weight
It is through your protection that men live
peacefully in the world, for by your care all evil, fear,
and danger are kept far from them. It is through you
that men become virtuous, and it is from you that puja
You are eternal
Hasten, great
derives its efficacy.
goddess, and answer my prayer
It is by virtue of this prayer that the gods have attained
that snakes penetrate into the bowels of the
to Swarga
earth, and float in the midst of the waters
that fire
that Brahmins, grown
possesses the power of burning
like to the gods, merit daily to receive worship and sacri-
fice from other men in acknowledgement of their sur-
He repeats the invocation
passing knowledge and virtue.
to the sun, and purifies himself in pronouncing the sacred
word aura. Then he performs the vyahriti in the following
who
thereof.
!
'
!
;
;
;
manner
:
(he puts his hands to his head).
Glory to Patala
(he puts his hands on the tuft of
Glory to the Earth
hair on the top of his head).
(he touches himself all over his
Glory to Swarga
'
'
!
'
'
!
'
'
!
body).
Then he exclaims, Aum-bhatu ! at the same time
cracking his fingers ten times whilst turning round, and he
stamps the ground with his left heel to scare away giants
*
and
'
evil spirits.
evokes the gayatri afresh, whom now at noon he
represents to himself under the image of Vishnu, in the
prime of life, clothed in a golden robe, and dwelling in the
He then recites the gayatri mantram the proper
sun's face.
number of times, exactly as before described, and then he
dismisses the deity, saying
'
You are born of Siva's face you dwell in the bosom
you are known of Brahma go, goddess,
of Vishnu
You are Brahma, the Supreme Being
whither you will
you receive the worship of Vishnu you are the life of
He
:
;
;
;
!
;
;
Brahmins their fate is in your hands it is in your power
to give them happiness in this world and in the next
give me many children, and may I always have abundance
I have offered you puja
Illustrious mother
of wealth.
;
;
;
!
now
depart whither
it
seemeth good
;
'
!