Indian Antiquary Vol 28

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

Page 70

56
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(FEBRUARY, 1899.
Within that period, the Chinese records mention the names of four or five kings: (1) Kuang-te in 73 A. D., who first submitted his country to the over-lordship of the Chinese; (2) Tang-t'sian in 129-131 A. D.; (3) Kian; and (4) 'An-kue, son of Kian, who succeeded his father in 152 A. D.; (5) Shanse in 220-226 A. D.21 None of these names agrees with any on the coins ; but they rather look like true Chinese names, so that it would seem that the kings bore duplicate names, native Turks and Chinese. At that carly period, as the Chinese relate, the kings of Khotan were devoted Buddhists, and as such, it may be surmised that they bore names which were the Uighur equivalents of Indian Buddhistic terms. Dharma being a common prefix of rarions Buddhistic names, Gugra might be its Uighur equivalent. A long list of ancient Khotan royal names, all beginning with Vijaya, is given by Rai Sarat Chandra Das from Tibetan sources. If this list can be trusted, Gugra might represent Vijaya.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
The idea seems to be that the spirit of the R&já enters into the Brabman who eats the khir (rice and milk) out of his hand when he is dead, as the Bråhman is apparently carefully watched during the whole year, and not allowed to go away!
R. RICHARDSON in P. N. and Q. 1883.
PANJAB BIRTH CUSTOMS, SHAVING
MUSALMAN BOYS. The hair on boys is shaved off after the 7th or 3rd day - sometimes, however, immediately after birth, according to the peculiar superstition of the parents. The richer people give alms of silver coins, equal in weight to the bair removed from the child. Nearly all families invite their near relatives on the 7th day to a feast, the actual ceremony varying with different parts of the Panjab. During this feast not only the guests, but the family bangers-on and the nurse are fed gratis, and the servants presented with money.
GULAB SINGH in P. N. and Q. 18834
SPIRIT-SCARING IN THE PANJAB - BRAHMAN EATING FROM THE
HAND OF A DEAD RAJA. THE following curious custom was brought to my notice while visiting a village near Raipur. Ambala Distriot. A Brahman, by name Natha, a resident of the village, stated that he had eaten food out of the hand of the RAJA of Bilaspur after his death, and that in consequence he had for the space of one year been placed on the gadi (throne) at Bilaspur. At the end of the year he had been given presente, including a village and then turned out of Bildspar territory, and forbidden apparently to return. Now he is an outcaste among his co-religioniste, as he has eaten food out of a dead man's hand. Is there really any such custom as the above P and if so, where else does it occur P
KORSE, AN INITIATORY RITE AMONGST
SWEEPERS'. THE LAlbegi sweepers have peculiar initiatory rites called Kursi. At such times they repeat verses called also Kursis (properly genealogies). Here are specimens:
Sat Jug ki Kursi. Sóné kd ghat : sdné ke mat: Sone kd ghord : sóné kd jord : Sône ki kuñjí: sond ka tala : Sône ka kiwdr : lao kuñjt! kholo kfwar! Dekho Dada Pir kd didár!
The Rite of the Golden Age. Golden pitcher: golden pot: Golden horse : golden dress : Golden key: golden lock: Golden door : put in the key ! open the door!
See the figure of the Holy Saint ! Similar verses are used for the Dwapar Jug, Tret& Jug, and Kal Jug, but the words silver, copper and earthen are need for each age respectively in the place of golden.
R. C. TEMPLE in P. N. and Q. 1883.
21 See ibidem, pp. 3, 6, 8, 15, 17. 91 See Journal, As. Soo, Beng., Vol. VI (1885), pp. 197, 198.
1 These notes may be road with advantage with the customa described in Herklot's Qanoon-e. Ialdm, p. 3 ff.- Ep.)
? [I believe the same or a similar custom obtains among
the Hill States about K&ögra, and has given rise to # caste of Mout-caste" Brahmans. In tho, Pioneer, for March 7, 1884, in an account of the funeral ceremonica of a Rápl of Chamba, it is said that rice and ghe were placed in the hands of the corpse, which a Brahman consumed on payment of a fee. -ED.)