The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.125

v1.c10.125

**Domestic Duties of Hermits :** Exception might also be taken to my identification of the so-called Dasyus with such hermits on the ground of its being inconsistent for such people to engage in domestic and pastoral occupations. But the laws of Manu do not at all prohibit such pursuits. On the contrary they ordain that the retired hermit should not only live in a hut and go about dressed, but even horde food sufficient to last for a year. He should [**92**] also provide means for the performance of various rites and ceremonies, make oblations on the hearth with three sacred fires, not omitting in due time the ceremonies to be performed at the conjunction and opposition of the moon, and also to "perform the sacrifice ordained in honour of the lunar constellations, make the prescribed offering of new grains, and solemnize holy rites every four months, and at the winter and summer solstices".⁷⁶ Nothing has been said by Manu as to the propriety or otherwise of ascetics keeping cattle, but the epics and the Purāṇas clearly show that the ancient sages were partial to milk, and the saintly character of Vaśiṣṭha was not in any way opposed to his keeping the famous cow Nandinī. The rites enjoined on them could not be performed without an ample supply of milk. The Buddhist ascetics, likewise, lived in huts, and not seldom collected money enough to dedicate images and topes built at their cost. During their four months of *Vasso* fast they lived in monasteries together with their religious sisterhood.