DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0324
312 Sraddha Ceremonies.
go through the ceremony of shaving (Kshaura) at a river
called Punah-punah, about ten miles distant on the road.
On reaching Gaya he was surrounded on all sides by thousands
of persons offering Pindas, some of whom were persons
of high rank—Rajas and Maharajas, on their way to the
great imperial assemblage at Delhi. Many went through the
entire round of ritual observances, necessitating the perform-
ance of at least a hundred Sraddhas at different shrines.
Mr. Deshmukh had to tell the Gaywal priests that he was
expected in a few days at Delhi, and had little time to spare
for Gaya. He was therefore allowed to dispense with all but
three ceremonies. These were—i. the Phalgu-Sraddha, per-
formed on the banks of the river; 2. the Vishnu-pada-Sraddha,
at the temple containing Vishnu's footprint; and 3. Vata-
Sraddha, performed under a Banian tree. Two whole days
were occupied in going through the necessary ritual of these
Sraddhas, which was most elaborate and tedious, and the
fees were of course proportionately large. The Maharaja of
Kashmir, who visited Gaya in the same year and stayed
rather longer than Mr, Deshmukh, is said to have expended
at least 15,000 rupees on the Gaywal priests before their
demands were satisfied.
I must confess that I myself came away from the Vishnu-
pada temple profoundly impressed by the solemnity and
earnestness of manner displayed by some of the worshippers,
their unfaltering faith in the efficacy of the acts in which they
were engaged, and their intense anxiety to carry out every
tittle and iota of the ceremonial in obedience to the directions
of their priestly guides.
go through the ceremony of shaving (Kshaura) at a river
called Punah-punah, about ten miles distant on the road.
On reaching Gaya he was surrounded on all sides by thousands
of persons offering Pindas, some of whom were persons
of high rank—Rajas and Maharajas, on their way to the
great imperial assemblage at Delhi. Many went through the
entire round of ritual observances, necessitating the perform-
ance of at least a hundred Sraddhas at different shrines.
Mr. Deshmukh had to tell the Gaywal priests that he was
expected in a few days at Delhi, and had little time to spare
for Gaya. He was therefore allowed to dispense with all but
three ceremonies. These were—i. the Phalgu-Sraddha, per-
formed on the banks of the river; 2. the Vishnu-pada-Sraddha,
at the temple containing Vishnu's footprint; and 3. Vata-
Sraddha, performed under a Banian tree. Two whole days
were occupied in going through the necessary ritual of these
Sraddhas, which was most elaborate and tedious, and the
fees were of course proportionately large. The Maharaja of
Kashmir, who visited Gaya in the same year and stayed
rather longer than Mr, Deshmukh, is said to have expended
at least 15,000 rupees on the Gaywal priests before their
demands were satisfied.
I must confess that I myself came away from the Vishnu-
pada temple profoundly impressed by the solemnity and
earnestness of manner displayed by some of the worshippers,
their unfaltering faith in the efficacy of the acts in which they
were engaged, and their intense anxiety to carry out every
tittle and iota of the ceremonial in obedience to the directions
of their priestly guides.