Re: Dakkhi.nodaka

At 18 Nov 2007 07:49:22 +0530 Nyanatusita wrote:
>
> Dear Phra Yuttadhammo,
> I could only find one reference to Jiivika in the Milindapa~nhaa, but it
> was not connected to this.

Bhante,

I think there is a confusion with the DhpA here, which indeed has the other version of the story, but no such explanation of what the word dakkhi.na refers to, afaics.

> I suppose that the
> water would be poured over the the right hands of the couple, or at
> least over the right hand of the groom. I am not familiar with current
> marriage rituals in Sri Lanka, but according to colonial accounts
> marriages were traditionally done by pouring water over the hands of the
> couple. Water symbolizes cohesion and fertility.

The DhpA (7.9) has another interesting custom:

Atha nesaṃ katamaṅgalānaṃ dvinnampi ñātakesu sannipatitesu udakapātiyaṃ hatthe otāretvā maṅgalāni vatvā kumārikāya vuḍḍhiṃ ākaṅkhamānā ñātakā ''tava ayyikāya diṭṭhadhammaṃ passa, ayyikā viya ciraṃ jīva, ammāti āhaṃsu.

They lower the hands of the engaged into the bowl of water and recite "blessings" (curses, as it turns out in this story).

If a parallel could be drawn here, it could be that the dakkhi.nodaka is truly for placing the right hand in.  I'd rather find that story of Sariputta again, where I sincerely remember him pouring water in dedication.

Yuttadhammo