Identifier: nativesofnorther00croo (find matches)
Title: Natives of northern India
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Crooke, William, 1848-1923
Subjects: Ethnology -- India India -- Social conditions India -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : A. Constable and Company, ltd.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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nterposed, as it were, between thegross body which has been destroyed by fire and thenew body which under the law of metempsychosis itwill by and by assume. If it be not furnished withthis intermediate body it will wander about in theform of a Preta or evil spirit. The rites by which this new body is prepared areknown as Sraddha. During this time, which usuallylasts ten days, the mourners are under strict taboo.Except for the purpose of visiting the cremationground, their chief never leaves the house. Leaves areused at meals in place of metal dishes ; they neitherbuy food nor cook it, eating only fish, herbs, and otherthings supplied by their friends. They neither praynor worship the gods ; the husband sleeps apart fromhis wife on a blanket, mat, or on the bare ground. Dayby day offerings of balls of flour are made by whicheach member of the new body is gradually constructed.When this is complete the clothes and other articlesused by the dead man, which are regarded as infected No. 25
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o < DEATH RITES 219 by the death taboo, are given to a Brahman of a lowclass which only accepts such gifts. Then followbathing and purification by which the death pollutionis finally removed from the house. The soul, once admitted to the society of the Pitri,or sainted ancestors, cannot rest in peace unless itis supported by the pious care of the decendants.Hence the Sraddha, which is really based upon thenecessity of feeding the soul of the dead, must berepeated at annual intervals, and the final repose ofthe spirit is secured by a visit to a holy place, such asGaya in Behar or Benares. Here, under the guidanceof a Brahman, the mourner makes a little pile of sandto serve as an altar. Food for the spirit is laid aroundit, water is poured to refresh the thirsty soul, and alamp is lighted to guide it to the feast. As in theoriginal Sraddha, Brahmans are fed, and the foodgiven to them passes to the spirit. After a year ortwo, when the recollection of the dead ceases to affectthe mourn

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