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OCTOBER, 1907.)
A REPORT ON THE PANJAB HILL TRIBES.
805
XLVII.-Ancestor Worship. 179. Prayers and sacrifices are offered to the spirits in the name of the dead. 180. No ceremony deserves mention.
181. No sacred animal, nor any plant, nor any other thing, is worshipped in the name of Any ancestor.
182. The heirs of the deceased offer alms in the name of the dead while performing kirya karm or shradh (funeral ceremonies) under the impression that all this goes to the spirit of the dead.
183. The things placed with a corpse are disposed of in the following manner :(1) All that is put in the mouth of the dead, as panch ratan (five gems), is burnt with it.
(2) The ornaments are, in the case of poor men, taken back, and in the case of rich men, sent to Hardwar, or given to the Achkraj (man officiating at funeral ceremonies).
(8) Clothes of small value are burnt with the corpse or buried with it. Costly clothes are takon back by poor people, but sent to Hardwar or given to the Acharaj by rich men.
(4) Edible things are generally given to the Achâraj. 184. Living persons fear the spirits of the dead.
185. If the soul of a dead person is seen in a dream by any one, and it troubles him, the deceased is considered to be the cause of this. A Brahman is asked to offer prayers for the salvation of the dead. A charm is written and tied to the neck or arm of the person dreaming about the dead.
186. The spirit of the deceased is considered to haunt his house for eleven days after deuth. The following matters are taken into consideration as regards other haunts :
(1) The spirit that has become united to the universal spirit does not return.
(2) The spirit which, on account of his sins, has not obtained salvation, always haunts here and there, finds rest nowhere, and is not pleased with any place. So spirits of the second sort haunt all places, like graveyards and cemeteries. Their forms are very fearful and they have no flesh on their hodies. They are said to be of fabulous sizes.
187. The forms of ghosts lead us to the conclusion that they were great sinners in their lives, or died a sudden death - such as by poison, or by falling down, or by suicide - and have not obtained salvation. There are different interpretations of these facts; but it is of no use to give their details, for it is impoesible to find out the truth in this way.
188. The Brâhmang expel ghosts by charms and magic. The person possessed by a ghost is made to inhale the smoke prodnced by burning wheat, chillies, the flesh of a tiger, and pork. If the ghost is not dispelled by these means, then the method mentioned in para. 174 is applied.
189. The kinds of ghosts have been given in para. 174.
180. Fifteen days are consecrated to the deceased ancestors in Bhadoi or Asoj. This period is called pitri paksh (ancestor's fortnight), and at this time Brahmans are fed and given alms in the name of ancestors. This is called shradh.
191. It is necessary to perform the shradh of man at Gya, and that of a woman at Gôdåvari. For inetance, if the parents of a person die, then he will perform the shradh of his father at Gya and that of his mother at Godavari.
[Or, at some place recognised as a substitute. - ED.)
