Administrative System of the Marathas c25.s4.30

c25.s4.30

Let us now compare the Maratha practice with regard to these two ordeals with the regulations of Narada who has devoted a long chapter to ordeals. Says Narada, "I will propound next, the excellent law regarding ordeal by fire. The interval between every two circles is ordained to measure thirty-two Angulas. Thus the space covered by the eight circles will measure two hundred and fifty-six Angulas. He should place seven leaves (on his hands with seven threads). A professional blacksmith who has practice in working with fire, and whose skill has been tested on previous occasions, should be caused to heat the iron in fire. An iron ball fifty palas in weight having been repeatedly made fiery, sparkling and red-hot, a pure Brahman who reveres the truth should address it as follows. * * * This prayer having been carefully written on a leaf and recited he should fasten the leaf on his head, and after having done so, should then give him the iron ball. Having bathed and stepped into the space covered by the eight circles, he should seize the fiery ball, take his stand on one circle and walk slowly through the seven others. The man must not put it down again till he passed through the whole of the measured ground. On reaching the eighth circle, he may drop the fiery ball, * * In this way the ordeal by fire should always be performed. It is adapted for every season except summer and very cold weather. All sores and scars on his hands should be marked with signs previously, and one should examine the hands again afterwards (and look after) the dots with which the sores have been marked. If it does not appear whether (either of) the two hands is burnt, he shall take and seven times crush grains of rice in his hand, with all his might. The grains having been crushed by him, if the members of the court should declare him to be unburnt, he shall be honourably released as being innocent. If he is burnt he shall receive due punishment."³⁶