Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 321

OCTOBER, 1884.)
MÅTRIGAYÅ AT SIDDHAPURI.
283
Numerous Hindu pilgrims frequent it to perform their Mátrigaya Sráddha. This ceremony is attended to by every Hindu to satisfy the departed spirit of his mother. Of course only those who have lost their mothers perform the gayá; those who have lost their fathers have to perform & corresponding ceremony at Pray à gay or Alla hâbâd. In the latter case & pilgrimage to Bå nêras or Vårast is compulsory. One should go there, bathe in the Ganges, and then proceed to Prayaga to perform the Pitrigaya; but for the Mátrigaya ceremony a pilgrimage to Vårå nasi is not necessary. He should go direct to Siddhapari, and there perform his mother's
gaya.
The following is a brief description of the ceremony :-When a pilgrim wishing to perform the gayá arrives at the station, several purohits, who call themselves Tirthadhikáris or persons having the sole) authority over the place, receive him. Each priest brings an old motheaten note-book in which are written the names and designations, the village and district of all former visitors. That priest in whose note-book any trace of visitors related to the person in question is found has the sole right to officiate as head priest or guru to the pilgrim, who is then called his bishya. The mere fact that the present sishya belongs to the same village or district from which a former bishya came is caught at and given as an authority for taking up the daty of officiating priest to him. When this is once settled, the other priests finding that they have lost their game slowly return home with faces in which one may perceive an expression of dissatisfaction. The guru then lets loose all his formal phrases of hospitality. “This house is yours. What do you want? What do you want ? " TT JA- T
TT E ." The bishya is lodged in part of the guru's house, or in a separate house, as he likes. The priest himself supplies all the requisite vessels, provisions, &c., of course, expecting payment for everything in the end. The only article for which the guru hesitates to take the price, and even refuses, is takra, or butter-milk, or chach, as it is commonly known in Hindustani.
When the pilgrim is not an official, or otherwise has no objection to spend more days than are required for the ceremony, the first day is
allowed for rest. If the latter, the first day is devoted to the Tirthasráddha, or ceremony in honour of the sacred river Sarasvati, and the second day for the Matrigaya. Soon after the tishya is lodged the guru comes and gives him an item of expenditure for the Tirthasraddha and the gaya. The smallest sum he is expected to spend is Rs. 25. Rich persons are compelled to devote some hundreds and thousands even for these ceremonies.
The Tirthadhikaris, or authorised priests of the place, keep a strict guard over the rites. They never give out a word of it to the curious bishya if he wants to write them out. When the latter takes his own priest to perform the Sraddha according to the custom of his place, the Tirthadhikáris never allow that priest to do anything. In fact, the pilgrim and the priest that accompanies him find themselves in such a position that they have no other resort but to obey the guru.
The Tirthaáráddha is a very simple affair. With a couple of cocoanuts and money in hand the sishya goes to the river Sarasvati, accompanied of course, by the guru. After a short prayer and a sankalpa he bathes in the river with cocoanut in hand, distributes money to the poor Brâhmans on the shore, and sits down to be shaved. If he has lost his father also, his moustaches are shaved clean off. If not, these are spared. But Dravidian pilgrims alone shave clean their moustaches also although their fathers are alive, as is the custom of their country. After the kshaura, or shaving ceremony, the sishya is made to bathe and to present his clothes to the guru and some fee to the barber. This bath is called sachélasnana, or bath with cloth. After this he puts on dry clothes and performs pújá on a high scale to the river Sarasvati, throwing into the water flowers, milk, curd, ghi, kunkuma, or red powder, and several other things, each with its mantra. Here ends the Sraddha ceremony, and if the bishya has lost his father he performs a Hiranyaéráddha also.
The second day is devoted to the mother's gayd. This is performed in the Kapilásrama, or hermitage of Kapila, two miles west of the town. Everything, even fuel, has to be carried on a mazuri's head from the town to the hermitage The pilgrim with all the necessaries of the ceremony goes early in the morning, accompa