Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c11.9

c11.9

The final bath of the Brahmacārin. Certain ceremonies, specially a bath of purification (snāna) took place at the end of the school period, after which the absolved student was called Snātaka "the bathed one." Such an absolved student has a claim to particular distinction, specially when he goes somewhere as a guest, but he has to observe special ceremonies (Gaut. 9, 1 ff.; Āp. 1, 30 etc.). Soon after his return to his paternal home the young Brahman proceeds to marry (§ 16) and therewith enters the stage of the house-holder (gṛhastha). The Gṛhastha life too is covered with a thick net of religious duties (Vi. 60—70 etc., cf. §§ 56—59). Even before the break of day he shall leave the bed and come out to perform the duty of evacuating the bowels; very detailed rules are given about the selection of a spot for this purpose and the cleansing of the body with the left hand by means of water and earth. Then follows the cleansing of the teeth with pieces of wood of the thickness of the little finger which are freshly cut from specially recommended trees. Moreover, water is sipped and the mouth and the throat are rinsed with it, which has to be performed in sitting posture with certain parts of the hand and the fingers while the head is to be turned