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The Puranas on Sacramental, Ethical and Philosophical Planes
241
patra method. Bahirydna" (the first exit of the child from the house)
This ceremony is the same as the Brahmanical Nışkramana As enjoined by the author, the ceremony should be performed after two, three or four months (from the birth of the child) on an auspicious day.
After the above rite, Jinasena introduces another Samskara called Nişadya28 (seating on a couch) After the observance of auspicious ceremonies, the child, according to the rule, is ceremoniously laid down on a properly spread out bed or couch The ceremony, like many others, seems to have been based on popular usage It, however, does not find mention among the sacraments, enlisted by the Brahmanical authors Prasana or Annaprāŝana2 (feeding with cereal) ·
Jinasena is not clear about the period of observance of the rite. Still we have reason to believe that in his opinion the ceremony should be performed in the sixth month from birth, for, the author uses the phrase masa-prthaktoa which may be interpreted as "in the period separated by a month" after the last sacrament. Now, as the performance of the previous ceremony has been prescribed after the fourth month from the birth of the child, so the present sacrament may be observed in the sixth month of the child But, according to the marginal note on the verse prescribing the sacrament, the ceremony should be done in the seventh or eighth month from the birthday of the child
Vyuşti or Varşavardhana30
The Samskara is introduced as Vyuşti, but also finds mention as Varşavardhana. The ceremony, according to the MP, 15 26 The device, as explained by the translator, means, that the names are written on one thousand and eight foils and each foil is rolled into a goblet All goblets are put in a pitcher In another pitcher is placed equal number of pills of which all except one are blank The remaining one is marked with the word Name Then an innocent boy or girl Is asked to draw the goblets, one each from both the pitchers simultaneously This method being employed, that name is given to the child with which the goblet marked with the word name comes out 27 MP 38 90-92 Cf Manu 2 34a
28 Op cit 38 93-94
29
MP 38 95 Comp 2 34b
30 MP 38 96 97
