Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 310

BRAHMINICAL FAST-DAYS
270
ordinary days the Brahmin Grahasiha may take two
one after midday, and one before going to bed.
But this rule has many exceptions. There are many days
on which he is allowed to take only one meal, about three
and there are others when he
o'clock in the afternoon
may neither eat nor drink.
The days of the new and full moon are fast-days, as also
the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth days of each lunar month,
which are called the ekadasi vrata on the tenth and
twelfth days one meal may be taken, on the eleventh day,
On
meals
;
;
;
To fast on these
called ekadasi, no meal at all is allowed.
As the fast which is kept
three days has a special merit \
on the eleventh day of each lunar month is observed with
particular solemnity, I will give a few details of it in an
appendix
2
.
The thirteenth day of the moon is an unlucky day.
In
Brahmins must eat nothing on that day till sunset s
.
the evening, before taking their food, they offer puja to
Siva, to propitiate him, and then begin to eat.
The
feast called Sivaratri (or
'
Siva's Night
')
falls
on
the fourteenth day of the moon in the month of Maga
(February), the origin and particulars of which will be
4
On that day no one must eat or
seen in an appendix
drink, or even sleep, for the whole twenty-four hours.
Every three hours during the day and night puja is offered
to Siva, and not until the following day, after having per-
formed the sandhya, are they at liberty to eat B
On the ninth day of the lunar month Cheitra (April),
being the anniversary of the incarnation of the great god
Vishnu in the person of Rama, Brahmins may take only
one meal in the day, and that without rice they may
6
only eat peas, cakes, bananas, and cocoanuts
1
The eleventh day is the only strict fast-day, and it is observed only
by old and religiously disposed Brahmins and widows. The Madhva
Brahmins observe the fast more scrupulously than others nowadavs.
.
.
;
.
—Ed.
- Appendix
3 This fast
4 Appendix
II.
is
not generally observed nowadays.
Ed.
III.
This festival is only observed by followers of Siva, and never by
Ed.
Vishnavites.
6
This festival, though strictly speaking a Vishnavite festival, is also
5
observed by ordinary Sivaites.
Ed.