20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

On the authenticity of the puberty rituals... 645constellationYogatimeothersaśvinī, rohiṇī,mṛga, punarvasū,puṣya, anurādhā,mūlambharaṇī, kṛttikā, ārdrā,āśleṣā, māgha, pūrvā,viśākhā, jyeṣṭhāviṣkumbha, gaṇḍa,atigaṇḍa, śūla, vyāghāta,vajra, paridha, vyatipāta,vaidhṛtanight, evening, afternoonwhile sleepingThe second part of the ritual provides a short description of thecelebration performed on the occurrence of the first menstruation.Women offer her turmeric, vermilion, flowers, garlands etc. They wavelights over her as she sits on a small decorated enclosed platform. Fragrantsubstances, grams and salt are gifted to women.The analysis of the RitualThus, the description of the puberty ritual in the AvPB shows two majoraspects, propitiation and celebration. Even the other texts share similardescription.1) On the basis of the description one may observe that the propitiousaspect is predominant in Indian puberty ritual. The word śānti appendedto the titles accentuates its propitiating character. Not only it highlightsthe appeasing character, but the horrifying dread of the menstrual blood isstressed. The description is seen coupled with the foretelling on the basisof the day, constellation, or activity, that the girl has undertaken at thetime of the first manifestation of the menstrual blood. Such an exaggerateddescription does not mark the occasion as a happy moment in a girl’s life butas a horrifying moment. The only aspect focused in the ritual is the fear ofmenstrual blood. The root of such a fear is seen expressed in a myth of theTaittirīya Saṁhitā (2.5.1) 11 . A succinct account of the myth runs as follows:Indra killed Viśvarūpa, the son of Tvaṣṭṛ. Since Viśvarūpa was aBrahmin, Indra had to bear brahmanicide; (i.e. a sin caused by killing aBrahmin.) He held it in his palms for over a year. All creatures blamedhim and censured him as ’brahmahan’ i.e. killer of a Brahmin. Then heapproached the earth, plants and a concourse of women. He requested them11Kulkarni, 2006: 155-173.