Indian Antiquary Vol 10

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 96

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1881.
they perform the worship at midnight in most the ends of the three fingers of the left hand, unfrequented and private places, and even in viz. :--the thamb, the little finger, and the one the burning grounds in honour of the goddess next to the thumb, closing the two other fingers. Bhavani. A Brůhman is usually the chief | The woman is then liberally rewarded and mover, but sometimes Sadras are the movers or
dismissed. accomplices, and are previously initiated in the The other ceremony performed on the admysteries. If the Sakta who knows the formula mission of a new member is nearly the same. belongs to the right hand party (Dakshanáchári), On the first night only the worship, by repeating he takes his own wife, but if of the left-hand verses in honour of Bhavani, is performed, and party (Vámachári), the daughter of a Mâng or the flesh, fish, and sweetmeats are eaten and Muhammadan prostitute. He asks the other liquor drunk. Bat on the second night, women members to join him at the appointed place. The corresponding to the number of members five makárs necessary for the worship are,- present on the previous night, are brought. mamsa, flesh; matiga, fish; madya, liquor; mait- These women may be of any caste, from the huna, cobabitation or rather women; and mudra, Brahman down to the Mâng, Dhed, and Musalcertain mystical gesticulations. At the meeting man. But it is necessary that one at least of place, lines are traced with quartz powder on them should be a Brahman. These women are the floor, on which a mat is spread. The Mang seated nude on a mat, within a quartz drawing, woman or prostituteis seated on the mat with side by side, and opposite them the worshippers her hair loose and the whole of her forehead sit each with a cocoannt shell in his hand. The danbed with red powder (lunlu). Then, re- chief among them, who is always well versed in peating verses, she is worshipped by all the the incantations, offers the several goddesses members with flowers, the waving of lights in beef, fish, sweetmeats, and liquor, and then colthe manner they worship their family gods, and lecting the remains of the food and mixing thom liquor sprinkled over ber. Then, placing before with more, he offers the same to the worshippers. her beef, liquor, fish, and sweetmeats, she is Then each worshipper pairs with the woman prayed to partake of the same. After she has before whom he is seated on the spot, and collecta eaten to satisfaction, the remains are collected the seed in his cup of cocoanut shell. He puts and mixed with the remaining food and liquor, it in a human skull. The faid is then well which are freely eaten and drunk by the mem- stirred, and each one, calling on the goddess bers. If she should not drink liquor, however Ai Bhavani! takes a sip of it. Then the whole much pressed, she is seated naked on an earthen | night is spent in debauchery, the men exchangpot with her tongue stretched out, and the ing the women, and the women the men, and worshippers pour liquor over the tongue, so that at the same time eating and drinking to excess. it falls from her body into the pot on which she Dubois says "the least detestable of the sacrisits, and about a tea-spoon is drunk by the fices made to the saktas are those in which the worshippers, and the rest mixed with the other votaries content themselves with eating and liquor in the pot. Dubois says, in the meetings drinking of everything, without regard to the which they bold, all castes are invited, without usage of the country; and where men and excepting even the Parwari. Not only are all women, huddled promiscuously together, shamedistinctions abolished and the Parwari is as wel- lessly violate the sacred laws of decency and come as the Brahman, but they call themselves modesty." Then, again, be adds, "In some virs, heroes, and those that do not join them, varieties of these mysteries of iniquity, the pashus, beasts. This over, each one by turns conspicuous objects of the sacrifice to the Saktis takes and lies with the woman on the spot where are a large vase filled with drak and a young she has been worshipped, and each collecting the girl, quite naked, and placed in the most seed that has dropped puts it in a human shameful attitude. He who sacrifices calls upon skull. When all have done this, the seed is the Sakti, who is supposed, by this avocation, sipped with the utmost joy by all the members. to come and take up her residence in those two They hold the pátra, skull, says Dr. Wilson, on objects. After the offering has been made of
Dr. Wilson says, they prefer for their worship a female devotee, sharlot, #washer-woman, #barber's wife,
Brahman, Chand Alin.
Sudra,
flower girl,
millemaid, and