SECT. I.—Form of Initiation into the Hindoo Religion.

Every Hindoo receives an initiating incantation from some bramhŭn, who then becomes his spiritual guide, (gooroo:) the principal thing in this incantation is the name of some god, who becomes his (ishtŭ) chosen deity, and by repeating whose name he is to obtain present and future happiness.

When the ceremony of initiation is to be performed, an auspicious day is chosen, which is preceded by a fast. On the morning of the day appointed, the disciple bathes; after which, entreating the priest to sit down, he presents him with some cloth, kourees, betle-nut, and a poita: after which he performs the ceremony called sŭnkŭlpŭ, in doing which he first takes in his joined hands a small copper dish, with some water in it; lays a plantain, some flowers, sesamum, kooshŭ-grass, rice, &c. upon it; and then says, ‘For the removal of all my sins, and to obtain happiness after death, I take the incantation from my gooroo.’ The gooroo then performs, at some length, the worship of the god whose name is to be given; to which succeeds the burnt-offering. He next thrice repeats, in the right ear of the disciple, the incantation: after which the disciple presents a fee of from one to twenty roopees, and worships the feet of the gooroo, presenting sweetmeats, cloths, flowers, fruits, and other offerings commonly presented to the gods.