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FOLKLORE OF THE KONKAN
67
on the body of the deceased only when death they will help the soul of the dead while has taken place on an unlucky day, or when crossing the river Vaitsrna. there is an unlucky conjunction of stars. The Water mixed with til or sesanium seed, son, or some other near relative, of the deceased sandalpaste, and oblations of boiled rice are generally performs these rites with the help given daily to the manes to secure their goodof a Bráhman priest. On the third day he will towards the survivors.2 goes to the burning place, collects the ashes At Bankavli in the Dápoli taluka of the of the deceased, and throws them into the sea, Ratnagiri District, in order to prevent the On this occasion he is accompanied by the soul from assuming the form of a ghost, there relatives of the deceased. Rich persons who are is a custom of tying a piece of Gulvel, a able to go to Benares keep the bones of their species of moonseed, or the seed of a vegetadeceased parents and throw them into the
ble known as Máthbháji, round the neck of Ganges at Prayág near Benares after per
the corpse before burning it. It is also
believed that, by doing this, the soul is preventforming certain Shraddhas there. The giving
ed from troubling the survivors of oblations continues daily till the tenth day. The oblations of the tenth day are called Das
At Poladpur in the Kolába District, some Pinda. The rites of the eleventh day are
villagers drive an iron nail into the head of called Ekotistha. On the eleventh day the
the corpse before it is taken to the funeral
ground. They believe that, in consequence, person performing the rites has to change his sacred thread, after sipping a little cow's
the soul of the deceased will not turn into an urine, Cooked food is prepared at the place
evil spirit. Some people scatter grain on the where the rites of the eleventh day are per
road while the corpse is being carried to the formed, and Bráhmans are fed there, or at
cremation ground. least thirty-two mouthfuls of cooked food are
Among the Hindus in the Konkan, as well offered to the sacred fire. A big ball of
as in the Deccan, dead bodies are generally boiled rice is put before the sacred fire or near
burnt, but under the following circumstances the Bráhmans taking their meals. This ball
they are buried. is then thrown into the sea. A male calf is
Persons dying of small-pox, women dying branded, worshipped and let loose. This calf
in childbirth or during their menses, children
dying within six months from their birth, and is called Vasu, and is considered sacred by the villagers, On the 11th day, special ceremonies
Sanyásis are buried. The bodies of persons for propitiating the eight Vasus and the eleven
suffering from leprosy are necessarily buried. Rudras are performed, and gifts of a plot of
Among Lingáyats the bodies are always
buried. Certain mantras are repeated while ground, a cow, cooking vessels, various kinds
burying or burning the dead body. While of corn, golden images, silver and copper
burying, cocoanuts and certain kinds of grain coins, clothes, Shoes, umbrellas, bedding, etc., i
, bedding, etc., are thrown into the grave, and after covering are given to the Bráhmans collected there. the dead body with salt, the grave is filled up On the 13th day after death a fenst is given with earth and stones. While burning, the to 13 or more Bráhmans and the other relatives. dead body is placed on the funeral pile Navakádán, i.e., the gift of a ship and with its head to the north and feet towards Gopradán, i.e., of a cow and a calf, are also the south. Tulsi wood, sandal-wood, and given to the Bráhnians on the understanding that Bel wood are kept on the pile before placing
Rán Sábeb Shelke, Kolbápur. 3 School Master, Bankavli, Ratnagiri. 5 School Master, Ubhádánda, Ratnagiri.
2 School Master, Bándivade, Ratnagiri. 4 School Master, Poladpur, Kolába. € School Master, Ibhrampur, Ratnagiri,
