Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 523

BRAHMIN FUNERAL CEREMONIES
483
if lie cannot articulate distinctly, certain
virtue of which he is delivered from all his
sins.
After this a cow is brought in along with her calf
her horns are ornamented with rings of gold or brass,
her neck with garlands of flowers, while her body is covered
with a new piece of cloth and she is also decorated with
various other ornaments. The cow is led up to the sick
person, who takes her by the tail, and at the same time the
purohita recites a mantram praying that the cow may lead
the dying Brahmin by a happy road into the other world.
The latter then makes a present of the animal to some other
Brahmin, into whose hand he pours a few drops of water
This gift of a cow is called godana,
in token of the gift.
and is indispensable if one wishes to arrive without mishap
in Yama-loka, or the kingdom of Yama, the king of hell.
Bordering Yama-loka there is a river of fire which all men
must cross after they have ceased to live. Those who have
made the godana, when they come to their last hour, will
find on the banks of this river a cow which will help them
to pass on to the opposite bank without being touched by
the flame. After the godana, the coins placed on the
metal salver are distributed to the Brahmins, and the
sum total ought to equal the price of the cow. After-
wards the dasa-dana, or the ten gifts, are prepared. These
are to be distributed at the obsequies which will subse-
quently take place.
The gifts consist of cows, lands,
gingelly seeds, gold, liquefied butter, cloth, various kinds
These ten articles, which
of grains, sugar, silver, and salt.
are offered to the Brahmins, are supposed to be extremely
acceptable to the gods, and procure for him who offers
them a blessed sojourn in the Abode of Bliss after death.
Brahmin must not be allowed to die on a bed or even
on a mat, and for this reason the soul in separating itself
from the body in which it is incorporated enters into another
body, which leads it to the Abode of Bliss destined for it,
and if the dying Brahmin were to expire on a bed, he would
be obliged to carry it with him wherever he went, which,
it may easily be supposed, would be very inconvenient.
Accordingly, it is necessary, in order to relieve the dying
person of such a burden, to offer abundant alms and per-
form expensive ceremonies. This absurd custom has sug-
recite in spirit,'
man trams, by
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