Indian Antiquary Vol 46

SR No.: 032538
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 508
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 359

THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
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holy texts in honour of the sun. If all goes to cause the destruction of sin. The subject well on Sunday, Brahmans, Sadhus and has been dwelt on at length in the Dharmaother pious persons are entertained at a feast. sindhu-grantha, Vratarāja, and ShodashopaThis feast is known as vrat.ujavapun. Some chara among the Dharma-Shāstras of the persons have the sun's image (an ashtadal) Hindus, engraved on a copper or a golden plate for The object round which turns are taken daily or weekly worship. 1
is either the image of a god, such as of On the twelfth day after the delivery of a Ganpati, Mahadev or Vishnu$ or the portrait child, the sun is worshipped and the homa of a guru, or his footmarks engraved or sacrifice is performed. ?
impressed upon some substance, or the agniIf at a wedding the sun happens to be in kunda (the fire-pit), or the holy cow, or an unfavourable position according to the some sacred tree or plant, such as the Vad bridegroom's horoscope, an image of the sun (banyan tree), the Pipal (ficus religiosa)." is drawn on gold-leaf and given away in the Shami (prosopis spicegera), the Amba charity. Charity in any other form is also (mango tree), the Asopalava tree (Polycommon on such an occasion. ?
althea longi folia),12 or the Tulsi (sweet A Nägar bride performs sun-worship for basil) plant. the seven days preceding her wedding.
It is said to have been a custom of the In Hindu funeral ceremonies three arghyas Brahmans in ancient times to complete their are offered to the sun, and the following daily rites before sunrise every morning, mantra is chanbed + :
and then to take turns round temples and भादित्यो भास्करीभानू रविः सूबो दिवाकरः। holy objects. The practice is much less घण्नाम स्मरेनित्वं महापासक्रमाशनम् ।।
commou now than formerly.1.3 Still, visitors It means-one should ever recite the six to a temple or an idol, usually are careful to names of the Sun, Aditya, Bhaskar, Bhanu, go round it a few times at least (generally Ravi, Surya, Divakar, which destroy sin. five or seven). The usual procedure at such
The sun is also worshipped on the thirteenth a time is to strike gongs or ring bells after day after the death of a person, when argh yas the turns, to cast a glance at the shiklar are offered, and two eartlren pots, contain or the pinnacle of the temple, and then to ing a handful of raw
Nhichell-rice and
khichedi---rice and return, 14 pulse--and covered with yellow pieces of | Women observing the chaturmäs-rrat, or the cotton are placed outside the house. This monsoon vow, lasting from the eleventh day of ceremony is called gadāso bharvo.
the bright half of Ashādh (the ninth month) Rajahs of the so'lar race always worship to the eleventh day of the bright half of Kārthe rising sun. They also keep a golden tik (the first month) first worship the object, image of the sun in their palaces, and engage round which they wish to take turns, with learned Brahmans to recite verses in his panchamrit (a mixture of milk, curds, sugar, honour. On Sundays they take only one ghi and honey). The number of turns pay meal and that of simple rice (for white food be either 5, 7, 21 or 108. At each turn is most acceptable to the sun). 5
they keep entwining a fine cotton thread Circumambulations round images and other and place a pendaor bantäsāt or a betelholy objects are considered meritorious and leaf or an almond, a cocoanut, a fig or some
1 Mr. G. K. Dave, Sultanpur.
Mr. H. M. Bhatt, Schoolmaster, Ganod. 3 Giriinshankar Karunashankar. Schoolmaster Sangadh. Mr. H. M. Bhatt, Schoolmaster, Ganod, • Mr. Chhaganlal Motiram, Wala Taluka.
Mr. R. B. Pandya, Jetpur, Sanskrit School * Mrs. Raju Ramjee Kanjee, Girls' School, Ganod. Mr. D. K. Pandya, Schoolmaster, Dhbank. . Mr. R. B. Pandya, Jetpur Sanskrit School.
10 Mr. J. D. Khandhar, Sayala. 11 Mr. D. K. Pandya, Dhhapk.
12 Mr. N. D. Vora, Rajpara. 13 Mr. D. K. Pandya, Schoclmaster, Dhhank. " Mr. X. D. Vora, Schoolmaster, Rajpara. • Milk and sugar ball.
A sugar cake,