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OF THE HINDUS.
183
RATANTI CHATURDAŠÍ.— Fourteenth lunar day of the dark half of Magha (26th January).- In Sir William Jones's description of this festival, he merely explains it by the sentence, “The waters speak”, the word "ratanti", meaning "they speak”; being the first part of an ancient text importing, “The waters say, We purify the sinner who bathes in the month of Mágha, when the sun is scarcely risen, although he be a chándála, or the killer of a Brahman'." Accordingly the essential rite on this day is bathing in some sacred stream or piece of water; which should be performed before dawn, whilst the stars are yet visible. As in many parts of India the temperature of the atinosphere is at this season almost cold, bathing at such an hour in the open air may easily be conceived to be no trifling penance. Offerings should also be presented on this occasion to Yama, the judge of the lower regions; for he who worships Yama at this period, it is said, shall not see death*. Besides the usual libations of water to deceased progenitors, a śráddha should be celebrated, and Brahmans and the family should be fed with rice mixed with pulse, accompanied by a particular Mantra?.
Harivansa, as cited by Raghunandana. The text, as quoted by Raghunandana, is -
माघे मासि रटन्त्याप: किश्चिदभ्युदिते रवी।
ब्रह्मघ्नमपि चाण्डालं कं पतन्तं पुनीमहे ॥ * [Sabdakalpadruma s. r. Mágha, p. 3395, a.] ..
? As in the Nirnayánrita, from the Brahma Purana. ATEकृपणचतुर्दश्यां विष्णोदेहान्मरीच्यादिना विभज्य बन्धुभ्यः कृशरं भो
