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SOCIAL LIFB
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ing ochre or coloured clothes, the Kuccandhara or the Sasarkkha ascetics or those besmeared with ashes were regarded to predict the failure of the work in hand. To stumble against a tree branch or striking the head against the same, inquiring a person who is on his way about his destination, sneezing or hearing unpleasant sound when a person is about to leave also indicated impending inauspicious moment. The monks were not to start at such inauspicious moments even if they had to go to a physician.2 Contrary to these, the sound of the twelve musical instruments being beaten simultaneously or that of Nandimukha, Mşdanga, Sankha and Pațaha (drum), the sight of filled vessels, a golden pitcher (bhingara), umbrella (chatta), fly-whisks (camara), the throne (simhasana) and the food like curd (dadhi) were considered auspicious for ensuring success in the work. The sight of an ascetic or a monk was considered inauspicious (amangala) while proceeding on a journey or pilgrimage by some, while it was taken as an auspicious omen by the others. While proceeding on a journey or venturing into a commercial enterprise the merchants as well as the monks always considered the fact that the omens were favourable to them.
The science of prognostication (nimitta) was highly developed and the fortune-tellers (nemittiya) were versed in the eight-fold division of the maha-nimittas. They could foretell profit or loss, happiness or suffering, life or death in the
1. N. Bhā.3019. See also-ga for the fact as a prefa_NC.
3, p. 100. 2. अक्कंचितो कहिं वा वच्चसि त्ति पुच्छिओ छीर्य वा अमणुण्णसहसवणं एवमादिएसु
NC. 3, p. 101. 3. N. Bhā. 3020; NG. 3, p. 101. -4. जत्ता णिग्गतो वा गिहत्थो साहुं दटु 'अमंगलं' त्ति भण्णति । कुतो अम्हाणं सुहं
for ER a Sifher faco-NC. 2, p. 328. 5. FIC TEST Fift Ford Bylarela --NC. 2, p. 328. 6, NC. 3, p. 215. 7. JATI STEBIT-folhei qul-NC. 1, p. 22.
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