Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c14.4.5

v2.c14.4.5

even the attempt at suicide is, indeed, to be heavily punished (Mahānirvānatantra, xi, 72 f.), and as an offence bringing loss of caste must be atoned for by works of mortification and "Penance of the Purse", that is, by giving cattle (Parāçara, xii, 5-8; cp. Vasistha, xxiii, 18 ff.). If a kinsman loses his life by his own hand, or in some other "unnatural" way (execution, water, fire, lightning, a beast, battle, accident, etc.), then his death does not make his kinsfolk unclean, and for the suicide there must be no pyre, no tears, no death-gifts, nor any other pious rite, otherwise heavy vows of mortification must be undertaken, as must no less be done by him who even cuts the cord of a hanged man. Gautama, xiv, 9 ff.; Manu, v, 89, 95, 98; Vishnu, xxii, 47, 56, 58-60; Vasistha, xxiii, 14 ff.; Yājñav., iii, 6, 21, 27; Parāçara, iii, 10; iv, 1-6; Kautilya, transl., 341.23 ff.; Garuda-Pur., Pretakalpa, 4.104-112, 160; 40.4 ff.; 44.24-29; 44.1-5; Baudh.-Grihyas., Pitrimedhasūtra, iii, 7.1 ff.; Mārk.-Pur., xxxv, 45; Agnipur., clvii, 32; 159.2-3; 158.37, 39-41; often in the Vishnupur.; etc. How uncanny the man is who has died by his own hand, is seen clearly also from Parāçara, v, 10 ff. The Çraddha on the 14th day of the half-month is forbidden for the ordinary dead, but prescribed for him that has been slain with a weapon. Yājñav., i, 263; Caland, *Totenverehrung*, bottom of 44 to 45.