BUL-DAN. Amongst the ancient Hindus, the sacrifice of a bull to Balnath, the lord Bal, the sun. Balnath was the deity worshipped by the Saura races in Gujerat, and was identical with the Syrian Bal. That ancient sacrifice has long ceased. Four altars were erected for offering the flesh to the four gods, Lakshmi-Narayana, Umia Maheswar, Brimha, and Ananta. The nine planets, and Prithu, or the earth, with her ten guardian deities, were worshipped. Five Vilwa, five Khudiru, five Pulashu, and five Udumburu posts had to be erected, and a bull was tied to each post. Clarified butter was burnt on the altar, and pieces of the flesh of the slaughtered animals placed thereon. Another description says that a covered altar had to be prepared. Sixteen posts had then to be erected of various woods ; a golden image of a man, and an iron one of a goat, with golden images of Vishnu and Lakshmi, a silver one of Siva, with a golden bull, and a silver one of Garuda, the eagle, were placed upon the altar. Animals, as goats, sheep, etc., were tied to the posts ; and to one post., made of the wood of the mimosa, was to be tied the human victim. Fire was to be kindled by means of a burning glass. The sacrificing priest, hots, strewed the grass called d'hub, or immortal, round the sacred fire. Then followed the burnt sacrifice to the ten guardian deities of the earth,—to the nine planets and the Hindu triad, to each of whom clarified butter was poured on the sacred fire one thousand times. Another burnt-sacrifice, to the
64 inferior gods, followed, which was succeeded by the sacrifice and offering of all the other animals tied to the posts. The human sacrifice concluded, and the sacrificing priest offered pieces of the flesh of the victim to each god as he cir cumambulated the altar.
At the present day the bull is often devoted by Hindus to:the gods, on the 11th day of mourn ing for a near relative. In this a marriage ceremony is performed, called brikhotsarg, or abandoning of a bull. Brik means a bull, and also the zodiacal sign Taurus. The brikhotsarg marriage ceremony is performed in the name of the bull, after which the animal is set free to roam ; and in some Hindu towns of India these devoted cattle infest the streets and roads, and are very numerous and very troublesome. In several Mahratta towns they were often let loose. In Benares they are still in numbers ; and what ever they may do or wherever they may lie down, they may be patted, spoken to, or even shouted at, but never struck. They are called Bijar, Saur, Brahmany bull. A similar marriage cere mony is performed with a well and orchard.— Ward on the Religion of the Hindoos, ii. p. 263; Elliot, 260. See Banotsarg ; Bull ; Jalotsarg.