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OF THE HIINDUS.
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on her husband's funeral pile, is now* prohibited in the territories subject to the British government. Its prohibition was prudently gradual, and was facilitated by the difference of opinion entertained by the Hindus themselves as to its obligation, as well as by those natural feelings of which not even superstition can wholly divest mankind. Although noticed by the historians of Alexander's invasion **, and therefore then prevailing, there is no authority, it is believed, for the practice in the Vedas ***. There is certainly none even in the laws of Manu.
A peculiar feature in the funeral ceremonies of the Hindus is the performance of the Sraddhat: periodical offerings of cakes, of flesh, or other viands, and libations of water, to the manes. These are incumbent on every householder, and are presented on a variety of occasions. They are offered in the first instance to such of his own ancestors as are deceased, and then to the general body of the progenitors of mankind, to the collective Pitéis, or Patres of the human race. When a person dies, the nearest of kin presents an obsequial oblation to his ghost daily, for ten days, and again at stated intervals for a twelvemonth.
* (since 1829. See Neumann, Geschichte des englischen Reiches in Asien. II, 168 - 73. J. W. Kaye, Administration of the E. I. Company, p. 538 f.]
** [See the quotations in Lassen's Ind. Alt., III, 317.] *** (See No. V. of this volume.]
† [Full particulars of this are contained in the Sraddhavireka. Benares: 1856.]
