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52 THE LIFE OF BAMASUJA. CH. VIII.
son of the Sage {i.e., son before he took the ix)be of Sanjasin)
to do what was necessary.
Thej sprinkled water over the place {sthala-sitddht) after
sweeping; constructed a fore-poled iiiantapam (booth or
bower)', and adorned it with festoons of darhha (sacred
grass), and sengazhu-nlr flowers ; silk hangings were hung and
chiiinaras (chovries or streamers) were arranged in tassels. To
the four posts were tied young plantaiu trees with bunches of
green areca-nut at the capitals. Fruits of different kinds were
hung from tlic canopy, and a flag hoisted at one corner. To
tlic four faces, East, South, West and North, were hung respectively
festoons of tender foliage, of pahisa, asvattha, khddira,
and udumhara. Paddy grain was spread on the floor (of the
bier), and pili-na-kumbha (water-filled vessel) was planted in
its midst, and four others at the corners.
Twelve more vessels
were placed outside the bowei-, at different corners, repeating
the Twelve Holy Names, Kesava &c. Their necks were wound
with kttsa, diirvd, darhha, vishnu-krdntha, and various flowers ;
these were worshipped after repeating the Vvaya-vmntra along
with the names of the gurti-parampard (the apostolic series),
and with the Twelve Holy Names, KeSava tfcc, they were
consecrated.
Leaving the vessel in the /saH^o-quarter (North-
East) called the Sankarshana-vessel, the four others were taken
up, and with them they laved the body of the Sage after the
panch-Amrita (the five articles of milk, butter, honey, curds
and cocoanut-water) ablution was over, repeating the Purushasukta
all tlie time. The gentry of the place (rnudalis) now
took up the remaining twelve vessels outside the bier, and
ablutions were performed with these after presenting the
assembled magnates with rolled betel and nut (jpun-supdri)
and obtaining their permission, after dextro-ambulating them.
The place at the outer-door wa.s next cleaned with cow-dung,
and over tlie space .so consecrated, rice grain was spread. A
mortar and pestle were brought and sacrificially washed with
water, and new pieces of cloth were tied to them. Turmeric
The bier of the Aryans.