DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0322
310 Sraddha Ceremonies.
be performed at about a hundred distinct places in and
around Gaya, as well as at the most holy spot of all—the
Vishnu-pada temple—the time occupied in the process being at
least eight days, and sometimes protracted to fifteen, while the
sums spent in fees to the officiating priests (who at Gaya are
called Gayawals, abbreviated into Gaywals = Gaya-palas, re-
garded as an inferior order of Brahmans) are often enormous.
The efficacy of Sraddhas performed at Gaya is this, that
wherever in their progress onwards departed relatives may
have arrived, the Sraddhas take them without further im-
pediment or delay to Vishnu's heaven (Vaikuntha).
One or two examples witnessed by me will suffice. A
party consisting of six men and one Gaywal entered one of
the colonnades of the temple and seated themselves on their
heels in a line, with the officiating priest at their head.
Twelve Pindas were formed of rice and milk, not much larger
than the large marbles used by boys (called ' alleys '). They
were placed with sprigs of the sacred TulasI plant in small
earthenware platters. Then on the top of the Pindas were
scattered Kusa grass and flowers. I was told that the
Pindas in the present case were typical of the bodies of the
twelve ancestors for whom the Sraddha was celebrated. The
men had Kusa grass twisted round their fingers, to purify
their hands for the due performance of the rite. Next, water
was poured into the palms, part of which they sprinkled on
the ground, and part on the Pindas. One or two of the men
then took threads off their clothes and laid them on the
Pindas. This act is alleged to be emblematical of presenting
the bodies of their departed ancestors with garments.
Meanwhile texts and prayers were repeated, under the
direction of the Gaywal, and the hands were sometimes ex-
tended over the Pindas as if to invoke blessings. The whole
rite was concluded by the men putting their heads to the
ground before the officiating Brahman and touching his feet.
The number of Pindas varies with the number of ancestors
be performed at about a hundred distinct places in and
around Gaya, as well as at the most holy spot of all—the
Vishnu-pada temple—the time occupied in the process being at
least eight days, and sometimes protracted to fifteen, while the
sums spent in fees to the officiating priests (who at Gaya are
called Gayawals, abbreviated into Gaywals = Gaya-palas, re-
garded as an inferior order of Brahmans) are often enormous.
The efficacy of Sraddhas performed at Gaya is this, that
wherever in their progress onwards departed relatives may
have arrived, the Sraddhas take them without further im-
pediment or delay to Vishnu's heaven (Vaikuntha).
One or two examples witnessed by me will suffice. A
party consisting of six men and one Gaywal entered one of
the colonnades of the temple and seated themselves on their
heels in a line, with the officiating priest at their head.
Twelve Pindas were formed of rice and milk, not much larger
than the large marbles used by boys (called ' alleys '). They
were placed with sprigs of the sacred TulasI plant in small
earthenware platters. Then on the top of the Pindas were
scattered Kusa grass and flowers. I was told that the
Pindas in the present case were typical of the bodies of the
twelve ancestors for whom the Sraddha was celebrated. The
men had Kusa grass twisted round their fingers, to purify
their hands for the due performance of the rite. Next, water
was poured into the palms, part of which they sprinkled on
the ground, and part on the Pindas. One or two of the men
then took threads off their clothes and laid them on the
Pindas. This act is alleged to be emblematical of presenting
the bodies of their departed ancestors with garments.
Meanwhile texts and prayers were repeated, under the
direction of the Gaywal, and the hands were sometimes ex-
tended over the Pindas as if to invoke blessings. The whole
rite was concluded by the men putting their heads to the
ground before the officiating Brahman and touching his feet.
The number of Pindas varies with the number of ancestors