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RELIGION
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The popular practice of tying the horns of buffalo around the neck of the children by the Persians has also been referred to. 1 Festivals
In India most of the festivals and festivities are some way or other related to religion. A great many festivals were observed by the Jaina and the non-Jaina society, some of which were common to both, while the others like pajjusana, 2 atthahiyas etc. were observed by the Jainas alone.
Festivals were celebrated in honour of the deities, due to the changing seasons, and towards innumerable other sacred objects. The Nišitha Sutra mentions various festivals held in honour of Imda, Khamda, Rudda, Mugumda, bhūta, jakkha, ņāga, thubha, ceiya, rukkha, giri, dari, agada, tadaga, daha, ņidi, sara, sāgara etc. A festival was usually observed on the erection of a temple, on the installation of an image in a temple or when a well was dug.5 Every new enterprise was thus accompanied with proper religious ceremonies.
Great Festivals ( Mahāmaha )–Of these various festivals ( maha ), four festivals were of greater importance and were styled as mahimaha or great festivals. These were : (i) Imdamaha, (ii) Khandamaha, (iii) 7akkhamaha and (iv) Bhūyamaha. These four great festivals were successively celebrated on the four full-moon days ( punnima ) of Asādha, Asoya, Kattiya ( Kārtika )
1. NO. 2, p. 396. 2. NC. 3, p. 131. 3. NC. 3, pp. 81, 141. 4. NS. 8.14; NC. 2, p. 443. Similar lists of festivals are found in the
various Jaina and Buddhist texts.- Nayādhammakahā, 1. 25 ( ed. by Vaidya, ); Mahānid desa, 1, p. 89, also p. 310; Milinda paino ( ed. by
Vadekara ), p. 190. 5. 934 FUOLIT JANITOUT Trys ar 2557–NC. 2, p. 143; Brh. Vī. 5, p.
1539. 6. NS. 19. 11; NC. 4, p. 226,
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