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MODERN JAINISM.
The pujāri completed his own preparations for this ceremony by taking off his vest, and, clothed only in his dhoti, or loin cloth, unwound the pagari from his head and arranged it over his bare shoulder like a khesa, or scarf, Taking some of the yellow powder, he marked with a cândalo his forehead and his ears, * drew three lines on each arm, marked the middle of his chest and each side, and finally drew a line round his neck. Then, going outside with one of the sacred vessels, he bathed again.
His personal preparations over, he took the gong, and striking it once or twice, laid it on the table. Next he took a spoonful of the liquid from the tumbler and poured it over the rice on the tray, and then did the same with a tiny bowlful, afterwards bowing elaborately before the shrine. Rising he sang loudly Jaya Jaya ( Victory, Victory!) and continued intoning in the same way as before.
He then took a few grains of rice from the full tray and placed them on the marked tray and on the upturned chalice.
Again he took, on a tiny brass platter, rather more rice from the full tray, elevated it, waved it slightly and emptied it out on to the marked tray. He repeated this several times, and then lighted the incense and knelt down.
Rising, he clapped his hands, took a few grains of rice, touched his forehead with them and put them on the upturned chalice.
He rang the gong for the second time and poured a spoonful of liquid on to the rice on the tray marked I.
* The marking of the ear is peculiar to Jaina.
