The Rites of the Twice-born

Agni amongst areca-nut ascetic asked astrologer auspicious mark avatāra balls bathe birth body Brahmā Brahmans bride bridegroom called caste ceremony child clarified butter cloth coco-nut cooked darbha-grass dead death evil fast father festival finger fire five fivefold flowers forehead four friends Gaṇeśa girl give given goddess gods gold grain Gujarāt Hanuman Hindu Hinduism holy husband idol India inner shrine Karma Kāṭhiāwār laddu ladies lamp linga loin-cloth mantras marriage married milk monsoon month morning mother Nāgara never night offered officiant ordinary Paramātman Pārvatī performed poured preta priest Rāma repeated represent rice rite ritual river round Ruling Chief rupees sacred thread sandal-wood sārī sesamum Śiva sometimes sprinkled Śrāddha stool sūtaka temple things throws turmeric Twice-born Vaiṣṇava vessel Visņu washed wear wedding whilst widow wife woman women worship writer Yama