Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India.djvu/227

Rh and the purōhit, repeating some mantrams (prayers), blesses the pair by throwing yellow rice over them. On the sixth day of the ceremony, the bridegroom runs away from the house of his father-in-law, as if he was displeased, and goes to the house of a relation in the same or an adjacent village. His brother-in-law, or other male relation of the bride, goes in search of him, and, when he has found him, rubs some jaggery over his face, and brings him back." As an example of the stanzas recited by the purōhit, the following may be cited : —

I have presented with my mind and word, and also with kusa grass and water. The witnesses of this are fire, Brāhmans, women, relations, and all the dēvatas. Forgive this presentable faithful maid.

I am performing the marriage according to the Vēdic rites. Women are full of all kinds of faults. Forgive these faults.

Brahma is the god of this maid.

By the grace of the god Vasudēva, I give to thee the bridegroom. The Badhōyis are Paramarthos, and follow the Chaitanya form of Vaishnavism. They further worship various village deities. The dead are cremated. The corpse of a dead person is washed, not at the house, but at the burning-ground.

The most common caste title is Mahārāna. But, in some zemindaris, such titles as Bindhani Rathno, and Bindham Būshano, have been conferred by the zemindars on carpenters for the excellence of their work. The carpenters and blacksmiths hold ināms or rent-free lands both under zemindars and under Government.