492 DISCARDING THE WIDOW ' S ORNAMENTS
beating their heads and breasts in measured time and weeping and sobbing as loud as they can.
The chief mourner makes three little balls of boiled rice and peas, places them on the ground on darbha grass, pours a libation of oil and water, offers the little balls to the deceased, and then throws them to the crows.
He puts back the three stones into the earthen pot which
has played so important a part during these ten days, carries them to the edge of the tank, performs sam-kalpa,
puts the pavitram on his ringer, walks into the water up to his neck, turns to the east, and looking towards the sun, says
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Till now, these stones have represented the dead body;
may that dead body from this moment leave its hideous form and take that of the gods! May it be transported into
Swarga to enjoy all its pleasures as long as the Ganges shall
' flow, as long as these stones shall last!
At these words he throws the pot and the stones inside it
over his head into the water. Then he performs his ablutions, returns to the bank, performs the sam-kalpa, and distributes the dasa-dana. Then, with the permission of the Brahmins, he and his near relatives are shaved; for during these ten days of mourning shaving is not allowed. Finally, after numberless foolish ceremonies, of which I have given only a short epitome, all repair to the edge of the tank. There a heap of earth four fingers high is made,
on which is placed a little ball also of earth, which receives the name of the deceased. Then the widow, surrounded by her companions and showing no sign of grief, divests herself of her jewels and rich garments, wipes off the artificial pigments with which she had smeared different parts of her body, and finally takes off the tali which she wears round her neck. This discarded ornament she places near the ball of earth which represents her deceased husband,
'
uttering these words the while: I abandon all these to
prove to thee my love and my devotion.' Then ensue fresh wailings and weepings on the part of her companions.
The purohita appears on the scene at this moment to perform the puniaha-vachana, that is, the consecration of holy
water '. He makes all the women who are participating in
1
See Part I, Chapter XIII.