Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 29, 1918.djvu/271

 The Rosary in Magic and Religion. 261

Among devotees the size of the rosary beads is very im- portant ; the larger they are the more effective is the rosary, and the greater the merit attained by the user of it.^

The rosary plays an important part in the initiation ceremony, when children are admitted to the religion of Vishnu at the age of six or seven years. The rosary used on this occasion generally has beads made of tulasi wood. It is passed round the neck of the candidates by the priest {Guru), who teaches them one of the sacred formulae, such as " Homage to the divine son of Vasudeva," " Homage to the adorable Rama," or " Adorable Krishna is my refuge." ^

A high-caste Brahman is careful to conceal his hand in a bag when telling his beads, so that he may not " be seen of men." This bag is called " cow's mouth," gaumukhi. It is often beautifully embroidered and is of a particular shape.

In the monasteries a novice is instructed to be very careful not to lose his beads ; should he do so, he is allowed no food or drink till he has recovered them, or, failing this, till the Superior has invested him with another rosary.

Further special uses for the different kinds of beads are as follows : " If a rosary be used in honour of a goddess the beads should be of coral [prdval] ; if in honour of Nirgun Brahma, they should be of pearl (mukta-mala) ; if with the object of obtaining the fulfilment of wishes [zvdsnd), they should be of rudrakshas ; ... if with the object of obtaining salvation [moksha), they should be of crystal {spathik) ; and if with the object of subduing the passions {stamhhan), of turmeric roots." ^

The Sikhs have a rosary which consists of knots instead of beads. This is an interesting form of rosary, as possibly it is a survival of an early method of keeping count by a system of knots. It is made of many strands of wool,

^ See Monier-Williams, Modern India and Iht Indians, p. 1 13 f. ^ Monier-Williams, Nclii^ious I'hoiis^ht and Life in India, p. 117. ^ K. Kaghunathji, Punjab Notes and Queries, iii. 608.