Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 5 of 7Thurston, Edgar
History
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 5 of 7
Thurston, Edgar
Caste -- India, South; Ethnology -- India, South; India, South -- Social life and customs; Tribes -- India, South
(21) A particular mode of taking food (not to put too much in
the mouth, because none must be taken back).
(22) You must not chew betel while you are polluted.
(23) You must observe the conclusion of the Brahmachari period
(the samavarttanam ceremony). This should be done before
consorting with Nayar women.
(24) You must give presents to your guru or preceptor. (The
Brahmachari must do so.)
(25) You must not read the Vedas on the road.
(26) You must not sell women (receive money for girls given
in marriage).
(27) You must not fast in order to obtain fulfilment of your
desires.
(28) Bathing is all that a woman should observe if she touches
another in her menses. (A woman touching another who is in
this state should, it is said, purify herself by bathing.
A man should change his thread, and undergo sacred ablution.
Women, during their periods, are not required to keep aloof,
as is the custom among non-Malabar Brahmans.)
(29) Brahmans should not spin cotton.
(30) Brahmans should not wash cloths for themselves.
(31) Kshatriyas should avoid worshipping the lingam.
(32) Brahmans should not accept funeral gifts from Sudras.
(33) Perform the anniversary ceremony of your father (father's
father, mother's father and both grandmothers).
(34) Anniversary ceremonies should be performed on the day of the
new moon (for the gratification of the spirits of the
deceased).
(35) The death ceremony should be performed at the end of the year,
counting from the day of death.
(36) The ceremony to be performed till the end of the year after
death (Diksha is apparently referred to).
(37) Sraddhas should be performed with regard to the stars
(according to the astronomical, not the lunar year).
(38) The death ceremony should not be performed until after the
pollution caused by childbirth has been removed.
(39) A particular mode of performing sraddha by an adopted son
(who should do the ceremony for his adopted parents as well
as for his natural parents. Among non-Malabar Brahmans, an
adopted son has nothing to do with the ceremonies for his
natural father, from whose family he has become entirely
disconnected).
(40) The corpse of a man should be burnt in his own compound.
(41) Sanyasis should not look at (see) women.
(42) Sanyasis should renounce all worldly pleasures.
(43) Sraddha should not be performed for deceased Sanyasis.
(44) Brahman women must not look at any other persons besides
their own husbands.
(45) Brahman women must not go out, unless accompanied by women
servants.
(46) They should wear only white clothing.
(47) Noses should not be pierced.
(48) Brahmans should be put out of their caste if they drink
any liquor.
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