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122
THE INDIAN ANTIQUAK.
(MAY, 1909.
SUPERSTITIONS AND CEREMONIES RELATING TO DWELLINGS
IN THE PANJAB.
BY H. A. ROSE.
The Aspect of the House.
1. The south. A southern aspect is onlucky.
In Jullundur (Jalandhar) it means that it will generally remain empty. In Lahore a house facing south, or a site on which a house facing south can only be built, has a markedly lower selling valne than one with any other aspect. Builders make every effort to avoid a southern aspect. In Gurgaon a house should, if possible, face towards the Ganges, never south. In Dern Ghazt Khan this aspect is specially unlacky.
2. The astrological aspect. In Trans-Giri Sirmûr the nam ras,' of the village settles the aspect in the first instance. If it is Kumbh, Talâ or Brichbak, the bouse must faee west: if in Brikh, Kunya or Makar, south: if in Min, Kirkh or Mithan, north.
The house must never face east. Bot north and south are also unlucky,' as the north aspect brings poverty and the south admits demons. Therefore when a house, according to the nám ras rule ought to face north, south or east, it is made to face north-east or north-west, south-east or south-west.
3. Other aspecte. In Amritsar a house bailt in front of a tree, or facing a tank or river, is unlucky.
II.
Times for building.
1. The auspicious moment. In Sirmûr aliandful of earth from the site selected is taken to a Brahman, who predicts the auspicious moment for laying the foundations, by declaring that a leopard, cow, fox or other animal or drum will be heard at the appointed time. The prophecy usually comes off, because it is radu with due regard to local circumstances at the time, but if it fails, the time is postponed and another day fixed.
2. Months for building. Baisakh, Bbádon, Magh and Phagun are lucky, unless the builder's ndm ras is in Saturn, Mars, Ketu or Rahu.
In Kangsa, the only lucky months are those between Magh and Har. In Dera Ghazi Khan, the lucky months are Sawan, Katik, Poh, Phagun and Baisakh.
1 The Hindi alphabet is divided among the twelve zodiacal signs, each of which affects the letters allotted to it. The w.dm ras is the sign to which the initial letter of the name of the village (e also of person) belongs.
? Also among Muhammadans in Dera Ghazt Khan.
In this District, if a pipal tree grows within the house preoinots, it is unlucky. But in Lahore symmetry und even safety are sacrificed in order to preserve a pfpal tree growing on the site of a house, or within ita precinots, unless the tree can be easily transplanted.
