04-19-2007, 09:52 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Apr 18 2007, 04:13 PM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Apr 18 2007, 04:13 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->water around leaf prevented ants and insects from coming into you leaf; the few morsels were put out there so the ants didn't go back hungry. Such concerns for little creatures while keeping hygeine in mind speak volumes. Similar traditions exists in other cultures?
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Here is J.A.Dubois' interpretation as written by him in "Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies" Pages 277-278.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->After his food has been served the Brahmin pours a little water round the food, then traces a square patch with a thin stream of water, puts a little rice in the middle, and says: 'Glory to Narayanan!' sprinkling over it a few drops of water. He also places a little rice on each of the corners of the square, saying successively: 'Glory to Vishnu! Glory to the god of evil spirits (Siva)! Glory to the god of the earth (Brahma)! Glory to the earth! repeating each time, "I offer him this rice'. On the rice that he is going to eat he places either some leaves of the tulasi, or a few of the flowers that he offered in the preceding sacrifice. He then traces a circular patch with a thin stream of water, and puts some rice in the center. This is an offering to the evil spirits.
Pouring a little water into the hollow of his hand, he drinks it as a foundation for the meal he is about to make. He takes a little rice soaked in melted butter and puts in into his mouth, saying: 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the chest!' At the second mouthful, 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the face!' At the third 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the throat!' At the fourth, 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the whole body!' At the fifth, 'Glory to those noisy ebullitions which escape above and below!'
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<b>Added: I remember being instructed, by elders, to ensure that the rice did not touch the teeth during the process. Of course after that it was time to slurp up the payasam. Nothing like eating on a plantain leaf. </b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Here is J.A.Dubois' interpretation as written by him in "Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies" Pages 277-278.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->After his food has been served the Brahmin pours a little water round the food, then traces a square patch with a thin stream of water, puts a little rice in the middle, and says: 'Glory to Narayanan!' sprinkling over it a few drops of water. He also places a little rice on each of the corners of the square, saying successively: 'Glory to Vishnu! Glory to the god of evil spirits (Siva)! Glory to the god of the earth (Brahma)! Glory to the earth! repeating each time, "I offer him this rice'. On the rice that he is going to eat he places either some leaves of the tulasi, or a few of the flowers that he offered in the preceding sacrifice. He then traces a circular patch with a thin stream of water, and puts some rice in the center. This is an offering to the evil spirits.
Pouring a little water into the hollow of his hand, he drinks it as a foundation for the meal he is about to make. He takes a little rice soaked in melted butter and puts in into his mouth, saying: 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the chest!' At the second mouthful, 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the face!' At the third 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the throat!' At the fourth, 'Glory to the wind which dwells in the whole body!' At the fifth, 'Glory to those noisy ebullitions which escape above and below!'
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Added: I remember being instructed, by elders, to ensure that the rice did not touch the teeth during the process. Of course after that it was time to slurp up the payasam. Nothing like eating on a plantain leaf. </b>