Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 29, 1918.djvu/274

 264 The Rosary in Magic and Religion.

beads to effect the cure. This is an example of the uni- versal belief in the " doctrine of signatures."

There is a rosary much used by Hindus of the Sakti sect which is called Putr Jiwa (" which gives Hfe to sons "). It is composed of beads made of light-coloured seeds, oval in shape, which grow very plentifully. This rosary is used by a Hindu when he wants a son. No doubt the idea of fertility is involved here.

Another rosary, used by Hindus who wish to get rid of their superfluous fiesh, is made of small, almost black seeds, dry and shrivelled-looking, being rather like dried currants in appearance. Doubtless the user of such a rosary hopes that by repeating prayers on it he may obtain a likeness to the seeds, and shrivel up and decrease in size himself.

A rosary from the Partabgarh district ^ consists of very small beads, plus the terminal, and is finished with a tassel of pink wool. This rosary is stated to be used to prevent the effect of the " evil-eye."

Buddhist. The Buddhist rosary is probably of Brahman origin, and here again the number of beads on the string is usually 108. This is said to correspond with the number of mental conditions, or sinful inclinations, which are over- come by reciting the beads. Moreover, 108 Brahmans were summoned at Buddha's birth to foretell his destiny. In Burma the footprints of Buddha have sometimes 108 sub-divisions, in Tibet the sacred writings [Kahgyur) run into 108 volumes ; in China the white pagoda at Peking is encircled by 108 columns, and in the same country 108 blows form the ordinary punishment for malefactors. Again in Japan, at the hommatsuri or honku (festival of the dead), observed from 12th to 15th July, 108 welcome- fires are lighted on the shores of sea, lake, or river ; and 108 rupees are usually given in alms.^

Besides the full rosaries of 108 beads, smaller ones are

' Specimen in Tylor coll. at the Pitt-Rivers Mus. " ^ Piv. U.S. National Mus., xxxvi. 335 f.