Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 13, 1902.djvu/92

 8o Collectanea,

and a marriage platform as large as the earth,i and the girl was married to a knife,^ thinking piteously all the time, " Why is this ? The King is said to have a son, and I am married to a knife ! " In the evening she was taken to the Tiger Prince and put into his cage. But next morning they found that he had torn her in pieces.

Again the Tiger Prince prayed to his father for a wife. And the Wazir engaged to buy one for eight bags of varus. Again he went to the innkeeper, who said, " Is my daughter well ? " The Wazir answered, " She is well. But I want a second wife for the Prince." " Take my youngest daughter," said the innkeeper. So the Wazir mounted her on the elephant which carried the money and set out with her for the palace.

On the way he got down to bathe, and while he was away a party of women passed by to draw water, and the girl heard them say, " The other day a girl was married to the Tiger Prince and he gobbled her up. Now a second girl is going to him, and he will serve her in the same way." At this the girl began to weep, and just then the Lord Siva and Parvati his spouse were flying in the sky. The goddess heard the cry of a woman, and brought Siva to the spot, who said, " Daughter, why dost thou weep ? " " Because I am to be married to the Tiger Prince," said the girl, " and he killed my sister, and I fear he will kill me." And Siva answered, " Take a garland of kasinda flowers,^ a bowl of water, and a handful of sand. When you are taken to the Tiger Prince put the garland round his neck, sprinkle the sand and water over him, and he will turn into a beautiful young man." But she objected, " When his parents see the man with me they will ask whence he came and why I have driven the Tiger Prince into the jungle. How can I clear myself?" The Lord Siva answered, "Take off the garland from his neck, sprinkle sand and water over him again, and he will turn into a tiger once more ; then they cannot help believing you."

' All Indian marriages are conducted in a booth made of bamboos and decorated with plantain-leaves and flowers. In this is erected a platform of earth in which the bride and bridegroom are seated. After their robes are knotted together they are led round the sacred fire lighted in the booth, while appropriate mantras, or holy texts of the Veda, are recited.

- The usual ritual in proxy-marriages among high-caste Hindoos. Some- times a sword is used.

^ Cassia occidentalis ; flowers yellow. Kasinda = cure for itching.