Page:The Sundhya, or, the Daily Prayers of the Brahmins.djvu/36



Devee the Hindoo prays for the fulfilment of all his wishes. In this Pooja a book, called the Markundeya Pooran, is placed before him upon a red cloth, which serves as a case for the book when put by. A few blades of the dhoop ghas (hay), some red flowers, and sandal, rice, betel-leaves, and cloves, are placed upon the book, which remains closed. The worshipper sits cross-legged, the two heels and soles of the feet turned upwards, as illustrated in this Plate (a painful and difficult position); and with joined hands, having made his petition to the Deity, he performs the figures of the six Moodras contained in Plate 18, called Kurunnyas in the Gayatri; and then the Hridayadi'nyas, as in Plate 19. This is the sign worn in the worship of Devee between the two eyebrows, of red sandal: the Sputikmala, or string of crystal beads, is worn round the neck.