Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

t Certain deities are regarded as protectors of new-born babes and of the lying-in-ap¬ artments. They are Shasthi, Ganeja, Kartikeya, &c. — T.

§ Brahmanas are directed to keep coronal locks. To this day, all orthodox Brahmanas observe the injunction. — T.

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86o

CHA RA KA - SA MHITA .

She should then cover the child with an untorn and clean piece of cloth.

After this, the child should be laid down with head towards either the east or the north. The father of the child should then appear, and saying that the new-born one is bowing unto the deities and the Brahmanas, he should cause the child to be christened with two names.

One of these names should be in accordance with the constel¬ lation under which the child is born, the other name may be in accordance with choice (of parents and relatives). Amongst these, the name depending on choice should have one of the ‘ Ghosha’ letters at the beginning, and one of the ‘ Antastha’ letters, or one of those letters which are called ‘ Ushma,’ at the end.*

It should, again, be an old one, not agreeing with that of any ancestor up to the third degree, not new-fangled (but conformable to what is established or usual.)

* The reading that occurs in many of the printed texts, is ‘ Ghoshavadadyantasthantam’ (compounded of Ghoshavat-adi-antastha-antam). The meaning is “having ‘ Ghoshavat’ at the beginning and ‘ antastha’ at the end.’ The ‘Ghosha’ letters, according to Chakrapani, are the fourth letters of the five ‘Vargas’ or groups, i. e., gh, jh, dh, dh, and bh. This is erroneous, for according to ‘Siddhantakaumudi’ (based on Panini), the three last letters of every ‘Varga’ are called ‘Ghosha’ letters, the rest of the letters of each ‘varga’ being ‘aghosha.’ The ‘antastha’ letters are y, r, 1, w. The ‘ushma’ letters are s, sh, 5, and h.

Gangadhara adopts the reading given above. In the comment upon it, he excludes the word ‘antastha’ and, therefore, interprets the compound as meaning ‘having ghosha letters in both the beginning and the end.’ The Bengali translators blindly follow Gangadhara.

Regarding the correctness of the reading, there is great doubt.

In the ‘Griya Sutras’ of Gobhila, the compound occurs in another form, viz. , ‘Ghoshavadadyantarantastham &c.’ ( Vide Prapathaka 2, Khanda 8, Sutras 9 — 18). The meaning is ‘having Ghosha letters at the beginning, and antastha letters in the middle.’ According to Gobhila, the letters at the end should be either a long vowel, or the aspirate, or the nasal dot.

It should be observed that whether Charaka’s reading or Gobhila’s be accepted, few names of even undoubtedly ancient origin correspond with the rule set forth. Take the names of the seven Rishis, viz., Marichi, Atri, Angiras, &c., or those of the compilers of Smritis , viz., Manu, &c.. They do not fulfil the conditions laid down.

Indian Nomenology is a highly interesting subject. Changes have been introduced from time to time in the formation of names. The names of Vedic times can easily be distinguished from those of later times. In Bengal, under the influence of one of the most successful novelists of the generation that is passing away, many new-fangled names have been introduced. They are as yet limited to certain wealthy families. — T.

■ CHARAKA-SAMHITA.

86 1

As regards the name determined by the constellation (of birth), it should consist of two or of four letters taken from the name of the presiding deity of the constellation.

After the ceremony of naming is over, the physician should approach the child for examining him in order to ascertain the measure of its period of life.

In this connection, these are the indications of children having long periods of life.

They are, (as follow) :

Hairs distinct from one another, soft, sparse, oily, with firm roots, and dark in colour, are regarded favourable ; skin tight (or compact) and thick ;

A head that is without defect, that is well-formed, slightly larger than usual yet not disproportionate to the body, and resem¬ bling an (open) umbrella, — is deemed favourable ;

A forehead that is large, compact, level, well-knit with the temporal bones equipt with three vertical lines (in the middle), welldeveloped, furnished with horizontal lines, and resembling the half-moon ;*

Ears that are thick, that have their pithas large and level, that are equal (in size), that extend downwards, that bend backwards,, and that have well-knit putas and large holes ;

Eye-brows slightly longish, having a small interval between- (that is, not joined together), equal (in length), thick, and broad