DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.641#0227
220 THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY.
occasions near a temple, the people bring their offerings,
and present them to two priests employed in instructing
the assembled multitude; the one speaks in the Pake, and
the other explains his words in Cingalese. Drums are
beaten at intervals, and the temple is illuminated.
Formerly, it would seem that religious feasts were held
monthly among the Burmans: as, the water feast; that
for presenting drink-offerings to the images of Booddhu;
that for watering the trees of the Ficus Indica; the interro-
gatory feast; one in honour of the priests; another in
honour of Gune"shu; the boat festival; the feast of alms ;
the candle feast; the feast of giving clothes to the priests;
the lot festival; and the festival for placing fire near the
images of Booddhu. At present, the Burman feasts are held
at the full and change of the moon only. At these times
all public business is suspended; the people pay their
homage to Goutumii at the temples, presenting to the
image rice, fruits, flowers, candles, &c. Aged people often
fast during the whole day. Some visit the colleges, and
hear the priests read portions from the Bouddhti writings.
According to the religion of Booddhu, there are no dis-
tinctions of cast. Polygamy is not forbidden by the Boud-
dhu doctrine, and it is not uncommon for a man to have a
plurality of wives. The Burmans burn their dead with
many ceremonies, especially the bodies of the priests.
Respecting the Hindoo deities, the Booddhus believe
that Brumha is the head of the Briimhacharees, and lives
with them in one of the higher heavens; that Vishnoo,
Shivu, Kartiku, and Soomuna, are the chief ministers of
Indru, the king of heaven, who has twenty-eight inferior
ministers. An intelligent native of Ceylon assured the
occasions near a temple, the people bring their offerings,
and present them to two priests employed in instructing
the assembled multitude; the one speaks in the Pake, and
the other explains his words in Cingalese. Drums are
beaten at intervals, and the temple is illuminated.
Formerly, it would seem that religious feasts were held
monthly among the Burmans: as, the water feast; that
for presenting drink-offerings to the images of Booddhu;
that for watering the trees of the Ficus Indica; the interro-
gatory feast; one in honour of the priests; another in
honour of Gune"shu; the boat festival; the feast of alms ;
the candle feast; the feast of giving clothes to the priests;
the lot festival; and the festival for placing fire near the
images of Booddhu. At present, the Burman feasts are held
at the full and change of the moon only. At these times
all public business is suspended; the people pay their
homage to Goutumii at the temples, presenting to the
image rice, fruits, flowers, candles, &c. Aged people often
fast during the whole day. Some visit the colleges, and
hear the priests read portions from the Bouddhti writings.
According to the religion of Booddhu, there are no dis-
tinctions of cast. Polygamy is not forbidden by the Boud-
dhu doctrine, and it is not uncommon for a man to have a
plurality of wives. The Burmans burn their dead with
many ceremonies, especially the bodies of the priests.
Respecting the Hindoo deities, the Booddhus believe
that Brumha is the head of the Briimhacharees, and lives
with them in one of the higher heavens; that Vishnoo,
Shivu, Kartiku, and Soomuna, are the chief ministers of
Indru, the king of heaven, who has twenty-eight inferior
ministers. An intelligent native of Ceylon assured the