An Alphabetical List of the Feasts and Holidays of the Hindus and MuhammadansSuperintendent Government Print., India, 1914 - 123 pages |
Common terms and phrases
according açoka Açviņa anniversary asuras bath Bengal Bhadra August-September Brahma Brahmans Brahmaputra bright fortnight Caitra March-April Çakti Caliphate called CATURTHI celebrated ceremony Çiva Çri Çrī Kṛṣṇa day is known deity devoted Durga Durgā Pūjā Eclipse eighth lunar day enjoined fast fatihah feast festival falls flowers full moon Ganeça Ganges goddess gods Hindu honour Husain husband incarnation India invoked Jagannatha July June Kālī kāma Kamsa Kṛṣṇa Laksmi last day light half lunar asterism lunar day Madras Magha Magha January-February Makara Manes mantras Meccans Messrs month of Bhadra month of Caitra Mu'awiyah Muhammadans night ninth lunar day obtain occasion offerings Orissa Pancami performed Phalguna prayers Prophet propitiate Pūjā Puri Quran Radha Rāma Ratha Yatra rice rite river sacred sacrifice Samkrānti sannyasa Sarasvati Satya Yuga Sept sesamum Shiahs Sītā soul takes place usually Viṣṇu vrata waxing moon worshipped Yama Yātrā Yuga
Popular passages
Page 67 - India was so pleased with this courteous delicacy in the customs of Rajast'han, on receiving the bracelet of the princess Kurnavati, which invested him with the title of her brother, and uncle and protector to her infant Oody Sing, that he pledged himself to her service, 'even if the demand were the castle of Rinthumbor.
Page 61 - Nagas, a form in which he is represented as surrounded by serpents and crowned with a chaplet of hooded snakes. On the day of the feast the people paint figures of serpents and birds on the walls of their houses, and seven days before the festival they steep a mixture of wheat, gram, and pulse in water. On the morning of the feast they take a wisp of grass, tie it up in the form of a snake, dip it in the water in which the grain has been steeped, and offer it with money and sweetmeats to the serpents.
Page 109 - ... his lap his little son, Abdullah, who was at once killed by a flying arrow. He placed the little corpse upon the ground, crying out, "We come from God and we return to him. O God, give me strength to bear these misfortunes.
Page 17 - ... place, which was then upon the brink of a vast chasm, leading to the infernal regions. When the sons of the king, who were in search of a horse intended for the solemn sacrifice of the Aswamedha, arrived here, they found the Muni absorbed apparently in meditation, while the steed was grazing near him. Accusing him of having stolen it, they approached to kill him, when fire flashed from his eyes, and instantly reduced the whole troop to ashes. In order to expiate their crime, purify their remains,...
Page 11 - In order to supply this defect, persons in general are enjoined to make libations of water on this day to his spirit, and to offer him sesamum seeds and boiled rice. The act expiates the sins of a whole year : one of its peculiarities is, that it is to be observed by persons of all the four original castes, according to a text of Dhavala, an ancient lawgiver, quoted by...
Page 104 - By no means can their flesh reach unto God, neither their blood ; but piety on your part reacheth Him. Thus hath He subjected them to you, that ye magnify God for His guidance : moreover, announce glad tidings to those who do good deeds.
Page 58 - Ganges meet, a celebrated religious fair (Mela) takes place during this season. The same festival in the South of India is commonly called Pongal (or Pungal). It marks the commencement of the Tamil year, and is the day for congratulatory visits. People purchase new cooking-pots and boil fresh rice in milk. Then they salute each other with the question — ' Has the milk boiled ? ' to which the answer is given that ' the boiling (pongal) is over.
Page 34 - The jewels are, in general, of the smaller size, not worth more than a rupee or two. There was a time when the offerings were of a less innocent description, and children were cast into the sea. This horrible and unnatural practice was wholly unsanctioned by anything in the Hindu ritual; and its suppression, by the Government of Bengal, had the cordial concurrence of the Brahmans. The act was not, like the oblation of fruits or jewels, intended to obtain the favour of the deified ocean, but in satisfaction...
Page 107 - Verily we have caused it (the Quran) to descend on the night of power. " And who shall teach thee what the night of power is ? " The night of power excelleth a thousand months ; " Therein descend the angels and the spirit by permission " Of their Lord in every matter ; " And all is peace till the breaking of the morn.
Page 82 - Brahman; his mane, the hymns of the Vedas; his nostrils, all the oblations ; his snout, the ladle of oblation ; his voice, the chanting of the Samaveda ; his body, the hall of sacrifice ; his joints, the different ceremonies ; and his ears as having the properties of voluntary and obligatory rites (Vishnu-Pur ana, vol.