Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 3-4.djvu/63

 THE ANAL-EROTIC FACTOR IN HINDU RELIGION 317

well as that feeling of the absolute necessity of doing certain thihgs in exactly the 'right' way were of the greatest importance in the period which we have termed Ritualistic Brahmanism. We shall now see how these same feelings have sought gratification when under the influence of the codes of conduct peculiar to the Nomistic or Preceptive period.

Indeed it would appear only possible to explain the vast majority of the ideas that govern the life of the Hindus, especially the Brahman on the assumption that his thoughts, actions and words are profoundly influenced by unconscious complexes associated with the act ot defaecation.

To simplify our illustration we will first pursue an orthodox Brahman male adult through his day from his getting up in the morning to his retiring to rest at night.

A Brahman should rise every day about an hour and a halt before the sun appears above the horizon. On rising, his first thought should be of Vishnu, and he should do all he can to avoid any inauspicious sights and to cast his eyes on something of good omen. Confusion might be introduced into the household for the rest of the day were the householder to cast his eyes on a crow on his left hand, a kite on his right, a snake, cat, jackal, or hare, an empty vessel, smoky fire, a bundle of sticks, a widow, a man with one eye, or even with a big nose. On the other hand, should the householder's first glance fall on a cow, horse, elephant, parrot, a lizard on an east wall, a clear fire, a virgin, or two Brahmans, all will go right. 1

Then after calling upon certain gods to cause the sun to rise, he recites several prayers and performs several meditations, remind- ing himself that this daily task to be meritorious must be done zealously and piously, and not indifferently and perfunctorily. He must then perform the hari-smarana, which consists in reciting aloud the litanies of Vishnu and repeating his thousand names. These preliminaries ended he must attend to the calls of nature and the following rules must be closely obeyed:*

Rtiles to be observed by Brahmins when answering- the calls of nature:

I. Taking in his hand a big chembu (brass vessel) he will proceed 1 Monier Williams: op. cit.