A belief prevails that any one dying in a panchak draws five companions to heaven, that is, his death is followed by the death of four others of the same village.[126]
A son born on the full-moon day is believed to turn out brave, but is supposed to forebode evil to the parents.[127]
If a girl is born on the 2nd, 7th or 12th day of a month falling on a Tuesday or Saturday in the Ashlesha, Kritikā or Shutbhilla nakshatra, she loses her husband.[128]
The Mul nakshatra falling on the 1st day of a month, Bharani on the 5th, Kritika on the 8th, Rohini on the 9th and Ashlesha on the 10th, has an effect like a volcano. A girl born on the 1st, 6th or 11th day of a month falling on a Saturday, Tuesday or Sunday in the Kritika or Mrigshar nakshatra is like poison. She is supposed to cause the death of herself, her husband, or all the members of her father’s family.[129]
Some of the Hindu holidays are considered auspicious for performing certain deeds, while inauspicious for performing certain others.[130]
The ceremonies described below are performed to help the spirit to the other world.
When a man is on the point of death the floor is cow-dunged and an offering of sesamum seeds, Durva grass (cynodon dactylon) and Java (barley) is made to the deities. Next, water of the Ganges or the Jumna is dropped into the mouth of the dying man and the name of Rām is whispered in his ear, as this is believed to turn his consciousness to God and thus facilitate his way to the other world.
When a patient is convinced that his case is hopeless, he distributes money or other valuable articles among Brāhmans, as this is believed to make his way to heaven easy.
When life is extinct, the corpse is placed on the cow-dunged floor and then carried on a bier to the burning ground with the cries of “Shri Rām”, “Rām”, “Rām nām satya hai”,[131] or “Jaya Shri Krishna”. In the fuel with which it is burnt is put Tulsi (sweet basil), Pipal and sandal wood and cocoanuts. The bones and ashes are collected and preserved, to be thrown into the Dāmodar kund, (pool of water) at Gaya or other holy waters. For three days after death, holy water and milk is offered to the spirit of the deceased. On the 10th, 11th and 12th day after death, on all the days of every month in the first year corresponding to the day of death, and on every anniversary of the death, Shrāddha is performed. Shrāddha is also performed annually on the day corresponding to the day of death in the dark half of the month of Bhādrapad.
The ceremonies mentioned above are believed to make the passage of the soul to the other world easy. For his final emancipation a man must renounce all pleasures of the senses and all egotism.[132]