History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP, IV.] AHUNAVAITI GATHA. 193

of the family then sit down together on a carpet spread in the room in which the body is placed, the men sitting on chairs or benches in the verandah. If death takes place at night, the body is kept in the house till the next morning, but if during the day—four or five hours before sunset—it 1s removed to its final resting-place in the afternoon. Until the last funeral ceremony, described hereafter, has been performed, a priest continues saying certain prayers before the corpse, burning sandal-wood over a fire all the time.

When the time for the removal of the body approaches, it is placed upon an iron bier which is brought in by the corpse-bearers. Two priests then stand facing the corpse, and recite the seven “has,” called “ Ahunavaiti Gatha.” These “has” contain no special reference to the dead; but their recital is intended as asermon upon our transient life in this world addressed to those who attend the funeral, and upon the benefits accruing from leading a life of morality and virtue ; indeed, that to do so is the surest, if not the only, way of enjoying happiness in the next world. The priesthood of the present day are unable to explain why this sermon is recited before the dead body instead of being preached directly to the persons attending the funeral; but it is believed that the recital of the Gatha, originally composed by the Prophet himself, is sufficient to destroy any evil influ-

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