This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...Saivas, or S?ktas, as the case may be. The snake goddess Manas? is believed to be their special patroness, and is worshipped by them in much the same fashion as by the B?gdis. Sacrifices of rice, sweetmeats, and dried rice are also offered by the heads of families to the tutelary goddess of each village, who bears the name of the village itself with the termination eint 1 According to some accounts Jalm?, the goddess of water, must first be worshipped with gifts of flowers at a neighbouring tank, and water drawn from this tank must be used in the marriage in addition to water blessed by a Brahman. ? This is the general rule, but the E?jbansi M?ls of Midnapur have recently abandoned widow-marriage. d MAL. 50 added; ?? that the goddess of the village P?thar? would he called P?tbar?sini. In most districts they have not yet attained to the dignity of employing Brahman ?, but elders of the caste or headmen of villages serve them as priests (kh?mul). In the Santal Pargan?s, however, the Brahmans of the Let sub-caste of B?gdis officiate also for the B?j? M?ls. The dead are burned, usually at the side of a stream, into which the ashes are thrown. A Disposal of the dead....,.,,,,,, 1 meagre imitation of the orthodox sradda ceremony is performed on the eleventh day after death in ordinary cases, and on the third day for those who have died a violent death. On the night of the K?li Puj? in K?rtik (October-November) dried jute stems are lighted in honour of departed ancestors, and some even say that this is done to show their spirits the road to heaven. Libations of water are offered on the last day of Chait. Female children are buried mouth downwards, a...