The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.138

c14.138

On the birth of a king’s child, it seems to have been a standing custom to have the future of the child predicted by Brâhmaṇas. Signs (lakshaṇa) in the body of the newly-born served to the Brâhmaṇas versed in reading signs (Lakshaṇa-kusalâ Brâhmaṇâ, I. 272; aṅgavijjapâṭhakâ, II. 21; lakshaṇapâṭhakâ, II. 194; nemittika-brâhmaṇa, IV. 79; nemittâ, IV. 230) for the deciphering of the future.