Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis c7.78

c7.78

For the ceremony of initiation a square of limestone powder is traced on the ground and about it are placed nine burning lamps made of wheat flour. The novice, after having bathed, takes a seat in the square, on a low wooden stool, and has his head shaved. His body is then covered with ashes of cowdung. A sacred thread of black wool consisting of nine threads and a rosary of one hundred and eight rudrākṣa beads are hung about his neck. His guru gives him a trident, a piece of cloth and an alms bag, and whispers in his ear a mantra. Ear-rings of conch shells are inserted. Their social customs resemble closely those of the Davre. The notable exception is the funeral rites. While following the practices already described, they dress the body in ochre-coloured clothes and burn camphor and incense before it. Four men carry the body, while a fifth holds his scalp lock. At the grave salt is thrown over the body. After the grave is filled up a mound is raised. A member of the funeral party stands over the mound, blows a conch and recites mantras for the benefit of the deceased. With the last syllable of the verse, each member of the party throws a handful of earth on the mound and then all return home. They mark their foreheads with ashes of cowdung. No śrāddha is performed. On the third and eleventh days a garland is hung from the roof of the house and over the water pot and a dough lamp is fed with ghī. A goat is killed and offered and a feast is held. They worship souls of ancestors on Nāgpañcamī.