Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c9.27

c9.27

Already Alberuni 2, 172f. mentions the vows of fasts Kṛcchra, Parāka, Cāndrāyaṇa etc. Even at the present day the principles of the Dharmaśāstra are in force for the penances which are still always prescribed by the Brahmans learned in law (dharmādhikārin) who give their opinions in writing. Fines or presents are most common; they are either directly exacted or, as is most usual, the man who performs the penance has to give a feast to all the members of his caste with prescribed entertainments. The Pañcagavya and the cultus of the cow in general also play an important role in the religious expiatory ceremonies, e. g. as recorded by Dubois, who also speaks of a rite comparable with the Govrata of the Smrtis in which one has to accompany the cow to the meadow and receive the urine in vessels actually brought for that purpose ¹. For graver crimes going on pilgrimage is regarded as the proper penance ². Also the Rahasyaprāyaścittas, decided either by the sinner himself or by the head of the family, are still in evidence, at least in Kashmir ³.