PUTRA. II1Nn. A son. Su-put, HiNn., means worthy,' or good issue ' (putra). The old Hindu law recognises twelve objects of affiliation. PUTR ANA ROX BURG II II. WO.
An ornamental tree growing all over India, from the Himalaya to Ceylon. It is a large timber tree, with an erect - growing trunk, and a large spreading, shady head, composed of innumerable expanding branches, with biferous branchleta. Flowering time March and April, and the fruit ripening in Jantutry. Wood white, close-grained. and very hard. The Sanskrit name is compnu tided of I'utra, a son, and Jiva, life. The Hindu stani name, Jiya putra, is similarly derived. The nuts are strung by parents round the necks of their children as charms to keep them in and are extensively sold in the bazars of Lipper India.—leuxb.; Boyle's 11Arell; lkddome; O'Sh. p. 611 ; Rohde's MSS.; Dr. Stewart, Ix I9G.
PUTROl'SAYAM. On the birth of a Brahman child, the ceremony called Putrotsavant is per formed, and on the occasion the father preaents sugar and sugar-cantly to relatives and friends.
On the llth day, the mother is anointed with the oil of the oriental sesamum. On the same day (11th), Punya.havachanam, or the purification rite
for the mother and house, is performed. It is then that the child receives its name,—that of some one of its grand or great-grand-parents,— by the father writing it three times, with a golden ring, in unhusked rice, spread on a plate. This naming is called Namakaranarn, and is followed by the guests bestoWing blessings on the young one, as they scatter rice, coloured with turmeric, over it and the mother, who are seated in the midst of the assembly. The father then distri butes money to the poor, and entertains relatives and friends. On this night, for the first time, the child is put into the cradle by the female guests, some of whom sing religious songs, while others rock the little one, and at the close the assembly are dismissed, after being presented with betel-nut, plantains, and boiled pigeon-pea, Caja nus Indicus. The birth of a girl is less a source of rejoicing, because of that part of the Hindu creed which lays down that parents and other ancestors attain Swargalocum or Indra's heaven through a son's efforts.