Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 207

SEPTEMBER, 1931)
MISCELLANEA
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179
MISCELLANEA. ORDEAL BY BALANCE.
from the bed of the temple tank was brought and The following extract, being Appendix of the put into one of the scrles, and the accused VamArcheological Report for Travancore, 1930, is worth pūtiri was made to sit in the other scale in order to reproducing for & wider public than that of the adjust the weight beforehand. Many people Travancore State.
examined the adjustinent and said that it was R. C. TEMPLE.
exact, the clay and the Bråhunan weighing exactly "Some 18 years ago, at Calicut, there took place
the same weight. I believe I myself was one who Dhata' or the weighing ordeal. It was in connec. examined and testified to this fact. The accused tion with a suit then pending before the Sub-Court
Brahman then left the scene to reappear for the at Calicut, in which one of the questions to be
ordeal. When the wretched man reappeared, all determined was whether Nampátiri Brahman,
who saw him were moved to pity. The 24 hours' who was a party to that suit, had lost his caste for
fasting which he had to undergo previously to breach of some caste rules. I do not well remember
purify him for the ordeal, and the great mental now the grounds of accusation, but I heard the
anxiety, made him look al very miserable creature parties agreed with the concurrence of the Sub
indeed. Add to this the fact that he had just then Court, that, should the Nampūtiri Brahman under
plunged in the tank and was coming directly from go the weighing ordeal, and succeed in establishing
the tank without wiping off the water from his body his innocence before the Vydikas, or priests, according
and with his wet clothes on, as he was directed to to the rules prescribed on that behalf, the question
do. It will be observed that not only was his body, as to the caste status of the accused Nampütiri
but his wealth, his reputation, his caste, in fact Brāhman might be decided in his favour. I pur.
everything he cared for in this world, were, as it posely came down to Calicut from a distant place were, to be put in the balance; and if he failed in to be present at the ordeal. I have a vivid rocollec- the ordeal, his life was of course not worth living. tion of the very imposing ceremony I witnessed on
You can imagine, gentlemen, under such circum. that occasion. It took place in the temple of Siva
stance, what should have been the great mental in Tali at Calicut, in the midst of a vast concourse
perturbation of the poor old Brahman as he apof people, Brahmans and Sudrag and the presence
proached the scales slowly, trembling with fear, and of the late Zamorin Maharaja Bahadur of Calicut, with torre running down his cheeks. As he a whose presence, it was said, was necessary to vali.
proached the scalos, he was made to prostrate date the procedure of the assembly of the Brâhınans.
before the weighing scales and repeat a stanza The king or his accredited minister, it is said, should
which was, I think, to the following effect : "O witness the ceremony. Accordingly tho Zamorin Dhata, or weighing scale, thou art the great judge officiated as the king. There was a large assembly of guilt or innocence. O mother Dhata, if I am of the most respectable Vydika Nampûtiris, Nam- innocent, let the scale in which I sit, go up; if guilty, pûtiripads and many learned Brahmans from all let it go down." With these words he got into the parts of South Malabar. A big weighing machine, scales. Great was the anxiety of the onlookers to made of copper, was hung to a thick wooden beam
know the result, which was inwever soon pronounced placed on two strong wooden pillars planted in the
by the Brahman priests (who officiated as judges inner courtyard of the temple. Before the actual
of the ordeal) to be in favour of the poor Brahman. weighing ceremony, there were as usual in all ceremonies conducted by the sacerdotal order,
As soon as the Brahmen got into the scale, the various preliminary ceremonies performed. Some
surging crowd Arommet the weighing machine beBrabman priests of high order sat for making
came so uncontrollable and so disorderly, and there * homams' in the sacrificial fires kindled around the was so much confusion and pronr that many scale, some sat to perform půjds, and some to officials, including myself, were unable to see exactly recite mantras' and Vedic hymns. The weighing how the scales stood; but the judges loudly and apparatus was decorated with garlands and wreathe
vehemently declared in favour of the poor accused, of flower and sandal paste, and formally monotified
and we were all much pleased. A rich banquet by mantras. The temple music was going on all
followed this ceremony, at which the Vampûtiri's the time, and occasionally the katinde, or temple guns, were fired. As usual at all Brâhman cere
innocence was formally declared by the Vydikas, monies, a mhurtam, or auspicious hour, had been
and he was allowed for the first time, after a fixed beforehand for the actual performance of the
long period of suspension from caste, I believe weighing ceremony. About some balf an hour be- nearly 30 or 40 years, all the privilegos of a fore the appointed hour, a quantity of clay taken Brahman."