Sundhya: The Daily Prayers Of The Brahmins

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From The Jacket

Sundhya is the daily recital of prayers by Hindu Brahmins, accompanied by appropriate gesticulations. This book was written in the mid-nineteenth century and for its author, a European lady, the religious habits and manners of the native Indian must have been interesting novelties worth exploring. The prayers, at place given in the original Sanskrit. Invoke various Hindu deities like Vishnu, Hanuman and Mahadeva. They come with pictorial illustrations that represent the manner of their actual performance.

Sundhya also carries information on the accessories crucial to the conduct of such prayers, like dhoopdan and shunkh. The book, in S. C. Belnos' own words, intends to "communicate a correct idea of the practices… and not to enter into the recondite subject of religions itself."

During her stay in Bengal in mid-nineteenth century India, S. C. Belnos was much attracted to the unique religious customs and practices of the local residents. In fact this was not her first attempt to document her impressions. She travelled to many a Hindu pilgrimage centres such as Varanasi, Goverdhan, Vrindavan and Mathura to research the topic of her interest and overcame many a hurdle to record with precision the daily recital of prayers which comprise Sundhya.

Being a European, and a woman at that, she found it hard to convince or at any rate make others comprehend why she had undertaken a task such as this. But nevertheless, she persevered with great diligence and was able to translate from explanations given to her in vernacular Hindoostani. She provides a fascinating and accurate expression of the sense and purport of the original Sanskrit texts which contain the intricate details about how such prayers are to be performed.

Contents

Introductory Preface	6
Plate 1	10
The Brahmin's First Morning Prayer
To The Gooroo On Rising
Plate 2	12
The Brahmin's First Ceremony
On Entering the Ganges He Repeats The Gungashtuk
Plate 3	16
Plates 4 & 5	18-19
Plate 7	22
Plate 8	24
Plate 9	26
Plate 10	28
Plate 11	30
Plate 12	32
Plate 13 & 14	34-37
Plate 15	38
Pooja of Mahadeo - Pouring Water upon the Saligram
Plate 16	42
Pooja of Mahadeo (Mahadeva)
Plates 17, 18 & 19	47-51
Pooja to Soorya (Sun)
Pooja to Devee (Shio Shiva)
Plate 20	52
Plate 21	56
Pooja of Gunesh
Plate 22	60
Pooja to Hunooman
Plate 23	64
Punch Agnee (Penance by the Heat of Five Fires)
Plate 24	66
Marks Worn by the Brahmins

Sample Pages