Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 311

ANOINTING WITH OIL
271
On the eighth day of the month of Sravana (August),
the day of Vishnu's incarnation in the person of Krishna,
they are forbidden to take any food at all, and must give
themselves up to works of piety. They make clay images
of Krishna and his wife Rukmani, Satya Bhama, Bala-
Badra, Rohini, Vasu-Deva, Nanda, Devaki. At midnight
they offer puja to all these deities together, and for nei-
veddya they offer cocoanuts, bananas, coarse sugar, common
peas, peaflour, milk, and cakes.
The next day, after the
sandhya, they can take their usual meals.
They must also fast on the anniversaries of the ten
Avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu
on the days called
irmnuvadi, yugadi, sankranti
on the days of eclipses at
the equinoxes, solstices, and the conjunction of planets,
and other unlucky days on the anniversary of the death
of father or mother
on Sundays and several other days
during the year.
On fast-days a man is not allowed to have intercourse
with his wife
the women are forbidden to rub their bodies
with powdered saffron and the men to anoint their heads
with oil. Wednesday and Saturday are the only days in
the week on which this cosmetic process may be indulged
To anoint yourself on other days
in with advantage.
might produce serious consequences. For instance, if you
anoint yourself on Sunday, you run the risk of catching all
sorts of complaints
if on Monday, that of losing your
personal attractions
if on Tuesday, you will shorten your
life
and if on Friday, you will probably become over-
whelmed with debts. Nevertheless, when the case is one
of urgent necessity, they may anoint themselves on one
of these days after taking certain precautions \
Whenever any one wishes to perform this operation, it
is necessary first to think of Asvatthama, of Bhali Chakra-
varti, of Veda-Vyasa, of Hanumanta, of Vibhishana, of
Krupacharia, and of Parasu-Rama. Dipping the tips of
his fingers in the oil, the anointer must let seven drops fall
on the ground, as a libation in honour of these seven per-
sonages.
After that he may anoint his head in the usual
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These customs are not very strictly observed nowadays. Ed.
The custom of oiling the body was very common among the Jews.