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THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
dedicated to gods, such as sandal-wood ointment, panchamrit,* the leaves of the bel tree (Aegle marmelos), tulsi leaves (leaves of the holy or sweet basil plant), betel-leaves and flowers; or objects which are sacred because of their having been dedicated to the gods, including tirtha2 or water used in bathing the images of godst; or things which are by nature so holy that it is improper to place them on the bare earth; for instance, images of deities, water of the sacred Ganges or the Jumna,3 any holy writ, a conch-shell and even gold, Cooked food also deserves respect, as it supports the lives of men, and it is sinful in a Hindu to let it lie on the bare ground. Any irregular conduct in this respect arouses the wrath of the Annadeva (or the food, deity).
It is, however, maintained by some that the reason why certain things, such as materials of worship, are not allowed to touch the carth, is that the earth itself being a deity, such things would be dedicated to this deity by a contact with the earth and would thus become incapable of any further use, as things that are dedicated to one deity cannot again be offered to another.7
During the course of the recitation of mantras (holy hymns) in honour of Vishnu and Mahadeva; on the occasion of offering prayers to the grahas (planets) for their propitiation and on occasions like Vishnu. yaga, Maharudra, Shatachandi, Gayatripurushavachana§ and Brahmana-varuna|| the devotee or the sacrificer and the priest
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sleep on darbha grass or on clean woollen blankets, spread on the bare ground.1
Other occasions for sleeping on the floor are the days of the observance of certain vrats or vows; such as, the Divāsā or the 15th day of the dark half of Ashadh (the ninth month), the Jamnashtami or the 8th day of the dark half of Shravana (the tenth month), the days of Goatrad, a vrat lasting from the 11th day to the 15th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, Mahashivaratri or the 14th day of the dark half of Magh, the Ekadashi day or the 11th day of both the bright and dark halves of a month, the Navaratra days or the first nine days Ashvin, eclipse days, and the day of Jägran or the 15th day of the bright half of Ashadh," besides, sometimes, the whole of the months of Shravana and the Purushottam or intercalary month; and the chaturmas, i, e., the four months of the rainy season.8
A Brahman in his brahmacharya (or the period of his life which, according to the shastras, should be devoted to the acquirement of learning, and which commences from the date of his being invested with the sacred thread and terminates at the age of twenty-three) and a widow are not allowed by the shastras to sleep elsewhere than on beds made on the ground.1
Women, while in menstruation, sleep on the floor for four days,2 Some women, when they are separated from their husbands, also sleep in this fashion,8
A dying person, two or three minutes be fore his death, is placed on the ground, which
1 Mr. N. D. Vora, Rajpara.
3 Mr. Jairam Vasaram, Jodia,
Mr. K. D. Desai,
The Schoolmaster of Gondal Taluka.
Mr. M. M. Rana, Barton Female Training College, Rajkot. *A mixture of milk, curds, ghi, honey, and sugar.
† Such objects are taken in a plate and thrown over a tulsi (or sweet basil) plant.-K, D. Desai, Sacrifices in honour of Vishnu, Mahadev and the goddess Chandi, respectively.-K. D. Desai.
A form of devotion requiring the recitation of the Gayatri-mantra a hundred thousand times with certain symbolic ceremonies.-K. D, Desai:
The appointment of duly authorised Brahmans to perform religious ceremonies.-K, D, Desai,
2 The Schoolmaster of Lilapur, Mr. D. K. Pandya, Dhhank The Schoolmaster of Dadyi,
