Indian Antiquary Vol 25

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

Page 90

84
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(MARCH, 1896.
Baptism is markedly a double anointing: the first as healing, and the second as the seal of the Spirit. In the second avointing, the priest dips a feather into a small bottle of holy oil specially prepared by the Metropolitan or Russian Pontiff, and signs the child in the form of a cross on the brow, eyes, nostrils, ears, lips, breast, hands, and feet, saying each time: "The scal of the Holy Ghost." If an adult is baptised into the Russian churcb, he is anointed on the forehead, over the eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, breast, hands and feet or knees. At the Baptism of Clovis (A. D. 467-511) a white dove brought ointment or Chris in & vase from heaven.87 Among Catholic Christians, in Baptism, the child is anointed on the breasts and between the shoulders.ca
All European kings are anointed on the coronation day. According to Mr. Jones, the anointing at the crowning of the kings seems to bave been brought to Europe from Egypt. But the practice is not more in agreement with the Egyptian than with Greek and Jewish ideas.69 Unction from the first was part of the Christian crowning. Charles the Great (A. D. 800) vas anointed all over. In the Greek ritual, the king's head : according to the English practice the head, breast and arms; and, according to the French seven parts of the body are anointed.70 At the Czar's crowning the Metropolitan dips a gold branch into the oil and anoints the emperor's forehead, eyelids, nostrils, ears, lips, and hands, both on thu back and on the palm.71 Oil from the statue of St. Cosmo in Italy cures sickness if rubbed on the diseased part.72 In tbe Greek charch, the sick are anointed with the enchelaion, or prayer-oil which seven priests have blessed.73 In Russia, the dying are anointed with oil from a glass set on a little heap or layer of wheat grains into which seven stick ends are dipped and, where possible, each stick is applied by a different priest.74 The Gnostics threw oil and water on the head of the dying to make them invisible to the powers of darkness.75 The dying Roman Catholic receives Extreme Unction, the anointing with holy oil. The Greek Church goes further, sprinkling on the dead either oil from a church lamp or incense ash from a thurible.70
(To be continued.)
NOTES AND QUERIES. SENDU BIR, THE WHISTLING SPIRIT OF Senda Bir steals corn, milk, ghí, &c., from others, KANGRA AND KASHMIR.
to give to his special worshippers. The people It is a common belief among the people that also fear those who are supposed to have mastered Senda Bir is generally to be seen in the form of a the mantras or charms by which Senda Bir can be Gaddi (hill shepherd) with a long beard and a kirá made to come at call, and to go by command, to
long basket for carrying milk, ghi, &c.) on his oppress their enemies. In some places Senda Bir back. The spirit is also called D&riala from its is supposed to burn down the houses, etc., of beard, and Kirowalk from the kirô or long basket. those with whom he is dissatisfied. In places The main shrine of Senda Bir is at Basoli, in the where houses are liable to be burnt down auddenly, territory of Jaimun, and smaller ones are at the people are much afraid of faqirs ooming to Dhar, Bhangöri, and Gungtha, in the Kångså beg in the name of Senda Bir; and if they say they District. Nearly all the Hindu cultivators have a belong to his shrine they are plentifully rewarded. strong faith in this spirit, and at both harvests The inhabitants of Barsar will commonly state offer him karáhí (i.e., halwa, sweetmeat). When- that the police station there was burned down by ever a house, or a woman, or a man is deolared by this spirit. a jogi (locally, chela or magic-man) to be possessed Senda Bir is also supposed to cobabit with any by Senda Bir, such person will make offerings of female to whom any person who has mastered his laráhís, or a ram, or a he-goat, to the spirit in charms may send him, the woman thinking that order to ward off illness.
she is in a dream. It is believed by cultivators generally that SIRDARO BHALYARI in P. N. and Q. 1883.
67 Smith's Christian Antiquities, p. 78.65 The Golden Manual, p. 671. 69 Jepes' Crowns, p. 288.
** Smith's Christian Antiquities, PP. 453, 466, 457, 488. 11 Jones' Crowns, p. 297.
71 Moore's Oriental Fragments (1814), p. 145. 78 Smith's Christian Antiquities, p. 628.4 Mrs. Romanoff's Rites and Customs of the Greco-Russian Church, p. 231. * Smith's Christian Antiquities, p. 777. T Op. cit. p. 1433.
[For a further note about Sendu or Sindhi Bir, see ante, Vol. XI. p. 261.- ED.)