Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 760

ORDEAL BY FIRE
720
the scale on which the accused is standing forthwith drops,
he is declared guilty if the contrary is the case, he is
declared innocent. If the scales remain equal, he is con-
and if the rope breaks, he
sidered to be partially guilty
is reckoned altogether guilty.
The ceremony, as usual, terminates with a distribution
of presents to the assembled Brahmins.
In the ordeal by fire they first of all draw eight circles
on the ground, each sixteen fingers in diameter, leaving the
same amount of space between each. Fire is the presiding
genius of the first circle. Varuna, the wind, Yama, Indra,
Kubera, the moon, and Savitru preside over the seven
;
;
others.
circles are arranged in two parallel lines.
All
ninth, placed by itself, is dedicated to all the gods.
the circles are purified by being smeared over with cow-
dung, on the top of which they scatter darbha grass. They
then offer qmja in turn to the deity presiding over each
These eight
A
circle.
Meanwhile the person about to undergo the ordeal bathes
without removing his clothing, and while still quite wet
places himself in the first circle of the line on the west side,
They then dip his hands into
his face towards the east.
wheat flour mixed with curdled milk, and cover them over
with seven leaves of the aswatta tree, seven leaves of choni,
and seven stalks of darbha grass.
A blacksmith then heats a small iron rod in the fire to
a red heat. The rod should be about eight inches long,
and the weight of fifty rupees. Then the purohita places
some fire purified according to the rites of his Veda to the
south of the ninth circle and performs the homam. He
invokes the goddess of Virtue in the same words as those
used in the ordeal by scales. He throws the red-hot iron
and after it has been re-heated to the same
into water
degree, he speaks as follows
Fire, you are the Four Vedas, and as such I offer you
homam. You are the countenance of all the gods, and you
are also the countenance of all learned men. You take
away all our sins, and that is why you are called pure and
purifying.
I am the greatest of sinners, but I have the
happiness to see you. Purify me from all my sins, and if
;
:
'