DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0432
422 The Bali-harana Service.
' Homage (l) to Surya, (2) to Prajapati, (3) to Agni, (4) to Prajapati,
(5) to Soma with Vanaspati, (6) to Agni and Soma, (7) to Indra with
Agni, (8) to Heaven and Earth, (9) to Dhanvantari *, (10) to Indra, (11) to
alHhe gods, (12) to Brahma, (13) to the waters, (14) to the plants and
trees, (15) to the house, (16) to the household deities, (17) to the gods of
the foundation of the house.'
Then portions are placed on the ground just outside the
circle for other gods and beings in the order of the quarters
of the compass, beginning with the East, saying:—
'Homage (18) to Indra, (19) to Indra's attendants, (20) to Yama,
(21) to Yama's attendants, (22) to Varuna, (23) to Varuna's attendants,
(24) to Soma, (25) to Soma's attendants, (26) to Brahma, (27) to Brahma's
attendants, (28) to all the Gods, (29) to all the Bhutas or Spirits, (30) to
all the Spirits who move about by day, (31) to all the Spirits who move
about by night, (32) to all Rakshasas and evil spirits, (33) to the
Pitris—the worshipper hanging his sacred thread over the right shoulder
and becoming Pracinaviti (see p. 410), (34) to the dog Syama, (35) to the
dog Sabala, (36) to Sanaka2 and the other Rishis (the worshipper hang-
ing his thread round his neck like a necklace and becoming Niviti, see
p. 410).
While making offerings of food to the spirits and animals
he says:—
'I who am myself desirous of being fed, offer oblations of food to
those spirits that move about day and night and delight in doing mis-
chief. Let the lord of food grant me also to be nourished by the food
I am about to eat.' .
While offering portions of food outside the door of the
house he says:—
' Let the crows that come from all the four quarters of the sky (presided
over by Indra, Varuna, Vayu, Yama, and Nirriti) take the portions of rice
placed by me on the ground. I present a portion to the two dogs, called
Syama and Sabala (see p. 289), belonging to the family of Vaivasvata,
that they may protect me always in my path (through this world and the
next). I place portions on the ground for dogs, for low-born persons
(candalas) and outcasts, for all animals and for crows (Sva-candala-
patita-vayasebhyah 3).'
1 Dhanvantari is not the physician of the gods produced at the churn-
ing of the ocean, but an ancient deity.
2 Sanaka was one of the four sons of Brahma.
3 The Rev. Nehemiah Goreh informed me that he used to repeat these
words every day when he performed the Vaisv%deva and Bali-harana for
his family.
' Homage (l) to Surya, (2) to Prajapati, (3) to Agni, (4) to Prajapati,
(5) to Soma with Vanaspati, (6) to Agni and Soma, (7) to Indra with
Agni, (8) to Heaven and Earth, (9) to Dhanvantari *, (10) to Indra, (11) to
alHhe gods, (12) to Brahma, (13) to the waters, (14) to the plants and
trees, (15) to the house, (16) to the household deities, (17) to the gods of
the foundation of the house.'
Then portions are placed on the ground just outside the
circle for other gods and beings in the order of the quarters
of the compass, beginning with the East, saying:—
'Homage (18) to Indra, (19) to Indra's attendants, (20) to Yama,
(21) to Yama's attendants, (22) to Varuna, (23) to Varuna's attendants,
(24) to Soma, (25) to Soma's attendants, (26) to Brahma, (27) to Brahma's
attendants, (28) to all the Gods, (29) to all the Bhutas or Spirits, (30) to
all the Spirits who move about by day, (31) to all the Spirits who move
about by night, (32) to all Rakshasas and evil spirits, (33) to the
Pitris—the worshipper hanging his sacred thread over the right shoulder
and becoming Pracinaviti (see p. 410), (34) to the dog Syama, (35) to the
dog Sabala, (36) to Sanaka2 and the other Rishis (the worshipper hang-
ing his thread round his neck like a necklace and becoming Niviti, see
p. 410).
While making offerings of food to the spirits and animals
he says:—
'I who am myself desirous of being fed, offer oblations of food to
those spirits that move about day and night and delight in doing mis-
chief. Let the lord of food grant me also to be nourished by the food
I am about to eat.' .
While offering portions of food outside the door of the
house he says:—
' Let the crows that come from all the four quarters of the sky (presided
over by Indra, Varuna, Vayu, Yama, and Nirriti) take the portions of rice
placed by me on the ground. I present a portion to the two dogs, called
Syama and Sabala (see p. 289), belonging to the family of Vaivasvata,
that they may protect me always in my path (through this world and the
next). I place portions on the ground for dogs, for low-born persons
(candalas) and outcasts, for all animals and for crows (Sva-candala-
patita-vayasebhyah 3).'
1 Dhanvantari is not the physician of the gods produced at the churn-
ing of the ocean, but an ancient deity.
2 Sanaka was one of the four sons of Brahma.
3 The Rev. Nehemiah Goreh informed me that he used to repeat these
words every day when he performed the Vaisv%deva and Bali-harana for
his family.