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While describing non-vegetarian preparations the method of temoving the hair of a pig is given. The animal should first be covered with a white piece of cloth. Boiling water should then be poured on the body of the boar with the help of a Gandaka (a vessel used for taking water from a big earthern pot) with a handle slowly till the hair are so shaken from the roots that they can be easily removed by hands. The remainder may then be removed with the help of a pair of scissors. Another method of removing the hair from the body is to besmear it with mud and burn the skin with fire made of grass. While treating of the preparation of us of at he says that ar should be kept in the form of a roll like a
In the opinion of the author dishes prepared in earthern vessels taste well. Peculiar mice living in the fields near rivers are also included in the non-vegetarian food. Aster describing the vegetarian dishes the author proceeds to describe the preparations of milk and curds. Then he refers to the manner in which the district officers are to be treated while at dinner. The king himself should be supplied with a golden dish having a bunch of golden vessels for curries. The king with his face turned towards the east should sit on a cushion with a white napkin spread from the navel to the knee. Thus the use of napkins at the time of dinner appears to be an old custom of rich men or princes in India. In the beginning the king should take rice with ra and ghee; in the middle sweetmeats i, e. dishes prepared with milk, sugar and ghee should be eaten. Then he should take fruits, sweet as well as sour, cold drinks, Sikharini and thick curds. Lastly, he should take buttermilk and salt with rice, which may be followed by milk and sugar. No mention of Rangavali or artistic designs made of coloured powders by the side of the dish is made by the author.
The king is then recommended to change foods and drinks in accordance with the needs of different seasons. He is asked to eat for instance, pungent things in spring, sweet and cold things in summer, salted things in the rainy season, sweet things in autumn, greasy and hot things in Hemanta and hot and cold things in winter. It is probable that this routine is fixed in accordance with medical laws in order to counteract the Dosa? which becomes predominant in a particular season. Then comes the right or the enjoyment of drinking water.
1. cf. The line 2915 TETÈXT afaragts ar Page 128. shows how almanacs were prepared. They were in scrolls. Before he art of printing came to India such almanacs were in use everywhere.
2. In medical books we find that every season has the of some to (i, e. ara, ga and 75%) and the # of some el.
Aho! Shrutgyanam
