A practice is noted among low-class people of performing a sādhana before the goddess Jhāmpadi for the sake of progeny. The man who performs the sādhana, has first to go naked to a cemetery on a Sunday night, and to fetch therefrom the ashes of a corpse. At the time of the sādhana, the man takes his seat on a corpse, fills a madaliun or hollow bracelet with the ashes brought from the cemetery, and puts it on his arm above the elbow.[591]
Dhobis, Mālis, Vālands and other low-caste people remain naked while worshipping Bhairav.[592] In the performance of the anushthān (propitiation) of such deities as Kāl-Bhairav,[593] Batuk,[593] Mani,[594] Griva,[594] etc., the devotees keep their persons uncovered. The worshippers of the goddess Jakshani also remain naked when they attend upon her.[595]
Persons who practise the art of curing men from the effects of serpent-bites by means of incantations, have to sit naked under water in order to gain efficacy for their mantras.[592]
Followers of the Devi-panth, Shakti-panth and Aghori-panth sects remain naked while worshipping or offering victims to their gods.[596] Vāma-mārgis worship a nude image of the goddess Digambarā.[591]
The hook-shaped instrument, known as ganeshio, which is used by thieves in boring a hole through the walls of a house, is sometimes prepared by a blacksmith and his wife on the night of Kāli-chaudas, both being naked at the time. Instruments prepared in this fashion are believed to secure success for the thief, who scrupulously sets aside the first booty acquired by the help of the ganeshio for the blacksmith as a reward for his services. He does not grudge the reward however large the booty may be.[590]
In making dice according to the directions of Ramalashāstra, the workers should remain naked.[595]
There is a belief that granulations in the eyes of a child are cured if the maternal uncle fetches naked the beads of the Arani tree, and puts a circlet of them round the neck of the child.[597]
If a person uncovers himself on hearing the screech of an owl, and then ties and unties seven knots in a piece of string, repeating the process twenty-one times, the piece of string is believed to possess the virtue of curing Taria Tāv or periodical fever.[598] Another remedy for the same ailment is to go to a distance of three miles from the village and there to eat food which has been cooked in a state of nudity.[589]
In the preparation of Nargudikalpa[599] or Gujakalpa[599], some drugs have to be procured by a naked person.[600]
It is considered meritorious by some persons to rise early in the morning and to bathe naked on the Makar Sankrānti day.[601]