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OF THE HINDUS.
203
samum seeds, justifies the remark made by Ovid on the Feralia, that the Manes are easily satisfied, - Parva petunt manes.
The observance of this ceremony is almost obsolete in Bengal, and in the principal authorities of Hindustan it is not noticed. The Bhavishyottara Purana* has a Bhishma panchakam,-a solemm rite which begins on the 11th of Kartik (light half), and continues to the 13th, which has something of the character of the Feralia, being a period of mortification and fasting, and expiatory of sin, which is worshipped in an effigy made for the occasion, placed upon a measure of sesamum, and invoked by the appellations of Dharmarájá or Yama, the judge of the dead. The ceremony is said to have been ordained by Bhishma, when mortally wounded, and is to be practised by all castes, and even by women. The rite is not found, however, in any of the calendars, and it is probably an expiring reliqne of the once general and public worship of the Manes.
BHAIMYEKÁDAŠÍ. — Eleventh lunar day of the light half of Mugha (10th February).- This is also a festival of traditional origin, said to have been first observed by Bhima, one of the Paúdu princes, in honour of Vishúu, according to the instructions of Vásudeva.
* [c. 63. See also Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda, c. 132, and Garudapuráúa, c. 123, as quoted in the Sabdak.d. s. v. Bhishmapanchakam.]
