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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE, 1898.
New-moon and Full-moon days. - Spirits are believed to be more numerous and dangerous on new-moon and full-moon days than at other times. This belief is general among Hindu physicians from their experience that men suffering from special diseases have a great fear that their sickness will increase on the days of new and full moon.86 On all new-moon days Brahmans offer water and sesamum seed to their ancestors; and those who are very pious, called agnihotris or fire-sacrificers, kindle a sacred fire on all new-moon and 'fuil-moon days.87 Dlarwar Radders on all, except the December new-moon, offer fried cakes to the goddess Lakshumava, and throw cakes to the four quarters of heaven,88 In Southern India, on all new-moon days, Brahmans offer sesamum seed and water to their dead father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.80 On those new-moon and full-moon days on which an eclipse takes place the influence of spirits is said to be exceedingly high ; on these days Hindus dip their household gods in water that they may not be defiled, and lay sacred grass blades or basil leaves on their own clothes and food. When the eclipse is over, all bathe, and change their sacred thread, and any cooked food that may be in the house is thrown away. On eclipse-days many exorcists and wizards stand in water and repeat or study the mantrús or incantations which gire them power over spirits, and all new candidates for the study of exorcism, sorcery or witchcraft are initiated on eclipse days.90 The washermen of Mysore on the new-moon
shapeless stone, and occasionally feast in honour of deceased ancestors. Among the Musalmans, on the new-moon which comes after the new year, the blood of a goat is sprinkled on the sides of their doors.82 Fryer (p. 94) says (in !673) on a new-moon night the Musalman widows of Surat used to go to the grave to repeat a doleful dirge, and bestowed a sacramental wafer, and asked their prayers for the dead. No young Musalnian girl will go ont either on a new-moon or on a Thursday evening.
The Musalmans of the Maldive Islands rejoice when they see the new moon, and offer him incense, and fire guns. At the sight of the new moon the Hottentots crowd together, make merry all night, dance, jump, and sing.95 According to Pliny, monkeys and marmosets are sad and heavy in the wape of the moon, but adore and joy at the new moon, testifying their delight by liopping and dancing. The Peruvians had a yearls water-sprinkling on the first day of the September moon.97
Besides new-moon and full-moon days the other Hinda special spirit-days are Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the day on which the sun enters the sign of Capricorn, nine days in the month of Asvin (October-November), and the pitripaksha or ancestor's fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada or September. Hindu children are not allowed to go out at noon or in the evening on a Tuesday, lest they inay be attacked by spirits who go on circuit at that time. New year's day and the days at the end of the year are also duys on which spirits are numerous. So all Hindus in the Kônkin, on new year's day, rub their bodies with oil and sesamum, bathe, and then eat sugar and ním leaves. Among the Halvakki Vakkals of Kánara, on the (April) new year's day or yugade, commemorative rites for all the spirits of the dead are performed. 100 On the five extra days of the Persiau year spirits come back to earth. Among the Egyptians there were three unlucky or black days which were dangerous to man. Among the Chinese the beginning and end of the year together form a great spirit season. On the last day of the year, which is the day of the dead) bead of the house, the Chinese burn incense before their family tablets, and before dawn go to a temple, burn incense,
15 Information from Mr. P. B. Joshi. * Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. XXII. p. 141. » Information from Mr. P. B. Joshi, » Fryer, 1673, Surat, p. 108. * Francis Pyrard, p. 99. $6 Pliny's Natural History, Book viii., Chap. 59. 9 Melia axarirachta. 10 Bombay Garetteer, Vol. XV. p. 206. • Jones' Crownu, p. 304.
7 Information from Mr. P. B. Joshi. * Dubois, Vol. II. p. 22.
1 Buchanan's Mysore, Vol. I. p. 338. » Information from Mr. Fazal Letfullah. * Haha's Touni Goam, p. 37. » Mackay's Freemasonry, p. 16.
Information from Mr. P. B. Joshi. 1 Dabistan, Vol. I. p. 327.
