Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/472

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436
The Religion of Manipur.

would give him a long and prosperous reign, which he certainly had. Since his time five other Rajas have put up stones, burying a small gold cup beneath them. These stones are held to be closely connected with those who erect them, so that any accident happening to a living Raja's stone is thought to portend some evil happening to him personally. The stone placed by Surat Chandra was gnawed by a tiger, and shortly after he was deposed by his brothers; no wonder then that our Raja was anxious to do all he could to avert misfortune. The six stones (S1-6) stand just outside the grove on the southern side. Taking the stones from east to west, the names of those who put them up are: Surat Chandra, Kriti Chandra, Bhaggo Chandra, Khagenba, Nursingh, and Chura Chand (the present ruler). The accompanying plan shows how the properties and the actors were disposed:—

A, A, A, A. Bamboos supporting a white canopy.

B, B, B, B. A line of pine torches about 8 inches long.

S1–S6. Stones erected by the Rajas.

1. Basket of paddy, with 2 discs of local salt, and 2 local coins.

2. A white buffalo.

3. Maiba's position.

4. A pig and a cock.

5. A pot of holy water.

6. Bunch of plantains.

7. Earthen dish containing fire.

8. Offerings to the 9 Umanglais.

9. Pot containing rice covered with white cloth.

10. Small pot with vegetables and salt.

11. Four sorts of fishes.

12. Empty pot on tripod for the cooking of the offerings.

13. Offerings to the 7 Lairemas.

14. Vegetables for Santhong.

15. Moirang ningthau.

16, 17. Clothing of the Lai Santhong and his Lairema.

18. A white cloth.

19. The Raja.