Note 445 — Chapter I

A bath in the waters of a holy river washes away the sins of the bather.445 It is also meritorious to repeat the names of the several holy rivers.446 The performance of Shrāddha ceremonies on the banks of a holy river secures the felicity of deceased ancestors in heaven.445 At the time of performing Shrāddhas at a holy place, Hindus shave their moustaches, bathe in the sacred waters, and then go through the necessary ceremonies, in the course of which pindas are offered to the Pitars (spirits of dead ancestors). Brahmans are feasted after the ceremonies, and dakshinā is given to them.447 Tarpan or an offering of water with flowers, ointment, red lac, cocoanuts, and betel, is frequently made to the river on the banks of which the ceremonies are performed.448 The bones of a deceased person, left unburnt after cremation of the body, are gathered together and thrown into holy rivers such as the Ganges, the Jumnā, and the Godāvari, for the purification of his soul.449