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APRIL, 1878.]
TRADITIONARY ACCOUNT OF KÅLIDÅSA.
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among them there is a single individual whose sacred food. It is said that on occasions maháprasáds are not in a measure proportionate Muhammadans have not scrupled to contract the to his position and standing in the Government obligation with Hindus. However repugnant service. The ceremonies observed when the to a true follower of Islam such a profession of tie is contracted are sufficiently simple. When belief in the great idol at Puri may be, in Sam. the position of the parties warrants it, the balpur, and probably throughout Orissa, the occasion is recognized as one of rejoicing; guests bulk of the Muhammadans are strongly imbued are invited, and often comparatively large sums with the spirit of Hinduism. Unconsciously of money are spent in largesse, gifts to Brâh- perhaps, but none the less certainly, the mind mans, and costly presents are exchanged be- often takea up much of the colour of its surtween the maháprasáds. It does not appear roundings, and a latent belief may redeem the that any ritual or religious ceremonies are pre- obligation from the grossness of open perjury. scribed as necessary to the occasion. When two It is related that, in times gone by, a European persons agree to sit in maháprasád,' as it is lady, in anxiety about the health of one dear to called, they bathe, and the Vedic rite of Kalsaher, was induced to propitiate Samlai, the prijd may or may not be performed. The parties blood-loving goddess, at Sambalpur. then sit opposite one another; one holding in When the tie is once formed the parties his joined palms a portion of the holy food cease to mention each other's names, using drops it into the hands of the other, held below instead the title maháprasdd. Similarly the to receive it; the position of the hands is then parents and relations are called mitra búpa, reversed, and the first holder now receives the mitra má, &c,-friend's father, friend's food from the second. This is done seven times; | mother,' &c.,--and the kinsmen of each are each person then eats a small portion of the supposed to stand in the same relation to the maháprasdd. The new-made brothers embrace, newly constituted brother. The connexion thus and the ceremony is complete. The operation formed is said in some instances to have con. of passing the maháprasád from the hands of tinued to unite families for more than one geneone to the other is accompanied by appropriate ration. Blood relations and persons of the expressions, such as I throw myself upon same name are by usage debarred from conyon,' I seek protection from you,' 'I abandon tracting this friendship. On the death of a all cause of quarrel,' 'I will never cause you maháprasád the family of the survivor not unany harm, I will aid you,' &c. &c. Even frequently mourn as for a relative. this amount of ceremony is clearly not essential Such is a brief view of this curious custom. to the due contraction of the tie. The commoner Much may yet remain to reward inquirers more form is for each party to eat in company a small competent and with greater opportunities. As portion of the sacred food, and then and there it affects public business it is doubtless of some each to acknowledge the other as his mahd. importance, while if in describing it any light prasád. The necessary condition underlying has been thrown on the inner life and feelings the bond is faith in the great Jagannath, and of the people, the sketch may in that measure acceptance of his presence as manifested in the be not altogether wanting in instruction.
TRADITIONARY ACCOUNT OF KALIDASA.
BY THE LATE RÅVAJI VÅSUDEVA TULLU, M.A., LL.B. What little can be gleaned from popular old. In this helpless condition, he was seen by or traditionary accounts of Kalidasa cannot a cowherd, who brought him up as a member of fail to interest, however inaccurate or scanty his family till he was eighteen years of age. the sources of our information. For this The natural beauty and delicate make of his reason, I give the following traditionary ac. person, distinguished him from the rest of the count:
family, as one presumably born of superior Kálidasa was born a Brâhman, and was lineage. But having had no education he was left an orphan by, the sudden, death of both little better than the illiterate class of people his parents, when he was scarcely six months among whom he was brought up.