Indian Antiquary Vol 24

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 66

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1895.
Bombay Hindus use cow's urine as a medicine as well as a purifier. In the Konkan, cow's urine is considered a specific for worms, from which young children are apt to suffer. The Brahmaņs and Prabhús of Bombay, on the eleventh day after a death, become purified by drinking cow's urine. The Brahmaus in Bombay, after a child is born, keep cow's urine, with nim leaves floating in it, at the entrance of the lying-in room, and no one is allowed to enter the room without firat sprinkling the urine on his feet with the nmn leaves. Among the Prabhús of Bombay, on the tenth day after child-birth, cow's arine is sprinkled all over the house; and, to free them from all impurity, each member of the household thrice drinks about a teaspoonful of the panchaguivya, - that is, claritied batter, curds, milk, honey and cow's urine.2 In Poona, drops of urine and Ganges water are poored into the dying Raul's mouth.3 The Dhôrs of Ahmadnagar spill a pot of cow's urine on the grave, and the Namdev Shimpis of Ahmadnagar, on return from a funeral, dip a nim twig in cow's urine and sprinkle their heads with it. Among the Dharwâr Lingayats the holiest of the holy water which is drunk by laymen is that in which the stone ling of the high priest has been bathed.7 The Gösavis of Belgaum, after a death, are purified by drinking the five products of the cow. On one fast nothing but cow's urine is drunk by Hindus. Fryerlo (1673) notices how the Banias of Surat "take delight in the stale urine of a cow, besprinkling themselves with it, as a Christian with holy water, or a Musalman with rose water: nay, more, they even use it as a potion or filter, and after it bid the devil do his worst." The Nairs of Malabar consider urine to be a parifier, and have water, cow's milk and cow's urine poured over them on the fifth, tenth and fifteenth days after a death.11 Oderic (1320) says : -" In Malabar the people take two basins, one of gold, the other of silver, and when the ox is brought from the stalls they put these under him and catch urine in one and dang in the other. With the urino they wash their face and with the dang they daub themselves on the middle of the forehead, on the balls of the cheeks, and on the middle of the chest."12 According to the Dabistan13 hnman urine was drunk by some yôyis.
The Burman priests use as medicine the urine of a cow or a black bullock, on which the juice of the lemon or other sour fruit has been poured. In China cow and horse urine are considered an excellent lotion for skin disease, and also for destroying white ants 15 In the Philippine Islands the first excrements of a new-born babe are a cure for snake and dog bites.16
The Dinkas of the White Nile make their hair a foxy red by continual washing with cow's urine.17 The Shillooks of the White Nile, if fairly off, cover their body with a rusty coating of cowdung ashes : with them dry ashes and cow's urine are inilispensable articles of toilet. According to a widespread Afrienn practice, milk vessels are wnshed with cow's urine instead of with salt.18 The Dinkas of the White Nile burn cow-dung and smear themselves with the ashes; they also use cow's urine in washing dishes. 10 Hottentot sorcerers or rain bringers procure rain by scattering their nrine over a fire.20 At a Moor wedding in West Africa a present of urine from the bride's person is sent as a special compliment, and is dashed in the receiver's face.21 Child's urine painted on the affected spot is considered a cure for sores in Central Africa.23
The Indians of Peru, in South Američa, wash their hair in urine, and the Spanish American women do the same.23
K. Raghunath's Patine Prabhus, p. 48.
* Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. XVIII. p. 361. • Op.cit. Vol. XVII. p. 109.
6 Melia azadirachta. • Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. XVII. p. 127.
• Op.cit. Vol. XXII. p. 199. • Op.cit. Vol. XXI. p. 184.
• Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. V. p. 983. 10 Voyages, p. 92.
11 Buchanan's Mysore, Vol. II. p. 409. 19 Yule's Cathay, Vol. II. p. 73.
18 Dábistan, Vol. II. p. 120. 14 Shway Yoe's The Burman, Vol. I. p. 141. 16 Gray's China, Vol. II. p. 123. 16 Jour. Ethno. Soc. Vol. II. p. 174.
11 Schweinfurth's Heart of Africa, Vol. I. p. 150. 15 Op. cit. Vol. I. p. 88.
19 Op. cit. Vol. I. p. 163. * Hahn's Touni Goam, p. 83. 11 Park's Travels, Vol. I. p. 136. * Stanley, Vol. II. p. 369. 9 Jour. Ethno. Soc. Vol. II. p. 206.