DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0404
392 Religious Services.
Here there is a small wooden temple (Mandira) or some
sacred receptacle for the household gods, the Indian Lares
and Penates, which in orthodox Brahman families—more
especially among the Maratha people—are generally five
consecrated symbols representing the five principal Hindu
gods; to wit, the two stones (Sala-grama and Bana-linga),
described at p. 69; a metallic stone representing the female
principle in nature (Sakti); a crystal representing the Sun
(Surya); and a red stone representing Ganesa, the remover
of obstacles (p. an). Here domestic worship is commonly
performed every day by each member of every respectable
Hindu family. Here, too, or in an adjacent court, there is
generally a sacred Tulasi plant (see p. 333), to which the
women of the family offer adoration.
Finally, in this part of the house the few remaining orthodox
(Smarta) Brahmans in different parts of India sometimes
maintain a sacred fire. For it must be noted here that,
although the ancient fire-worship and sacrificial ritual have
almost disappeared, yet at Benares and other strongholds of
Brahmanism a certain number of Brahmans of the old school
still offer daily oblations in a sacred fire which they main-
tain in their own houses, while they conform also to the more
recent practices enjoined in the Puranas. Even the old Vedic
Soma-sacrifices are sometimes performed by such men on
great public occasions.
For example, a Soma-sacrifice was instituted not long ago
at Poona, and at Wai near Mahabalesvar. Again, four or
five years ago a rich man, named Dhundiraj Vinayak Sudas,
had three Agnishtomas, one Vajapeya, and one Aptoryama
sacrifice (all of them parts of the Jyotishtoma Soma-sacrifice)
performed at Allbag in the Kohkan. He employed a vast
number of Pandits, Yajnikas, Srotriyas, and Agnihotris, and
spent at least 20,000 rupees. In the course of the cere-
monies forty-two goats were killed. They were cooked on
the fire called Samitragni, and partly eaten by the priests,
Here there is a small wooden temple (Mandira) or some
sacred receptacle for the household gods, the Indian Lares
and Penates, which in orthodox Brahman families—more
especially among the Maratha people—are generally five
consecrated symbols representing the five principal Hindu
gods; to wit, the two stones (Sala-grama and Bana-linga),
described at p. 69; a metallic stone representing the female
principle in nature (Sakti); a crystal representing the Sun
(Surya); and a red stone representing Ganesa, the remover
of obstacles (p. an). Here domestic worship is commonly
performed every day by each member of every respectable
Hindu family. Here, too, or in an adjacent court, there is
generally a sacred Tulasi plant (see p. 333), to which the
women of the family offer adoration.
Finally, in this part of the house the few remaining orthodox
(Smarta) Brahmans in different parts of India sometimes
maintain a sacred fire. For it must be noted here that,
although the ancient fire-worship and sacrificial ritual have
almost disappeared, yet at Benares and other strongholds of
Brahmanism a certain number of Brahmans of the old school
still offer daily oblations in a sacred fire which they main-
tain in their own houses, while they conform also to the more
recent practices enjoined in the Puranas. Even the old Vedic
Soma-sacrifices are sometimes performed by such men on
great public occasions.
For example, a Soma-sacrifice was instituted not long ago
at Poona, and at Wai near Mahabalesvar. Again, four or
five years ago a rich man, named Dhundiraj Vinayak Sudas,
had three Agnishtomas, one Vajapeya, and one Aptoryama
sacrifice (all of them parts of the Jyotishtoma Soma-sacrifice)
performed at Allbag in the Kohkan. He employed a vast
number of Pandits, Yajnikas, Srotriyas, and Agnihotris, and
spent at least 20,000 rupees. In the course of the cere-
monies forty-two goats were killed. They were cooked on
the fire called Samitragni, and partly eaten by the priests,