Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 530

490
CEREMONIES AFTER BURIAL
Provided with all these and accom-
(dasdrdana).
panied by his relatives, he returns to the burning-groundi
There he performs his ablutions, puts on the ring, or
pavifram, performs the sam-kalpa, and then fills a new
earthen pot with water, which he sprinkles over the ashes
After that he sprinkles them with milk.
of the deceased.
He squats on his heels with his face turned to the east,
performs once more the sam-kalpa, stirs the ashes with
the small stick above mentioned, looking for any bones
that may have escaped the flames, and these he puts into
an earthen pot, reciting a mantram meanwhile. Gathering
up a portion of the ashes, he throws them into the water.
The remainder he collects into a heap, to which he gives
the rough semblance of a human figure, supposed to repre-
He offers as sacrifice to it a portion
sent the deceased.
of the things he has brought, sprinkles it with pancha-
These
gavia, and puts the whole into an earthen pot.
sad mementoes of the deceased are destined to be thrown
subsequently into one of the sacred rivers.
He then raises a mound of earth twelve inches high on
the exact spot where the dead body has been burnt, and
taking three small stones he places one in the middle of
the
the mound, which receives the name of the deceased
second, which he places at the south end, is named Yama
and the third, which he places at the north end, is called
Rudra. Calling these three stones by the names which
he has given them, he proceeds to rub them over with
gingelly oil, bathes them while he continues to recite man-
trams, and clothes them in the three pieces of yellow cloth
with which he has provided himself. Afterwards, putting
them back in their places, he offers them puja and nei-
veddya, and pours a libation of oil and water in honour of
each particular one. Then all the Brahmins present file in
one by one, embrace the chief mourner, and weep with him.
The distribution of dasa-dana follows as on the first day.
The three stones are next placed in the earthen pot that
is intended for cooking the rice and the peas, which are
mixed with a fresh supply of these vegetables, and the heir
carries it all to the border of the tank.
After cooking the
viands he offers them to the three stones, repeats his liba-
tions, and at last throws the rice and the peas to the crows.
gifts
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