VY AWASTHA-DARPAN A. 97.4 points, as applicable to Bengal.—lst. That adoption is restricted to no partie ulur age.–2nd That one initiated in tonsure, in the name and family of his natural father, is incapable tot adoption.—3rd. That the age of the person selected for adoption must be such as to admit o' the ceremony of tonsure being performed in the adopter's name and family. Now the doctrine of the shift tow-moniusi. alsove alluded to, cannot be received as the law of Bengal, by reason of its being diferent from that inculeated by the lhi(/ako-chandrići, which in this country is respected as of paramount authority, and is followed in preference to all authorities, on the subject of adoption.* As to the opinion of 18 lithanandana and his followers including Jagannātha, which is based solely upon the passage in question as from the Atisiká-purána, it is to be observed that the genuineness of that passage itself is questioned by many, particularly by the authors of the Chandriká and the Jyarahira-nayukht, and it is apparently not authentic, being wanting in many copies of that jo rina, and bearing the look of an interpolation in those which do contain it, as it does not connect well with the context.f Indeed, had it been authentic, it would have been very probably cited as authority, instead of being doubted as unauthentic, by the author of the //, //uka handriká. ( See. I). Ch. Seet. I l. § 25, 24}. ) Even allowing the opinion of Iokananda wa and his followers not to be an unfounded one, it cannot be, as it has not hitherto been, followed in practice, being, as it is, at variance with the doctrine of the Pittsaka-(%andriki. Should it be alleged that, being cited by many of the compilers, some of whom are writers of great authority, such as the author of the sluttaka-Mimìnsii, the passage of the Ki/iki-joorina in question must be received (whatever may be thought of its authentivity ) as the expression of a doctrine that has their sanction,-the reply would be, that still it cannot be accepted as the doctrine of the Bengal school, when a different doctrine on the subject has been inculcated in the I/attaka-Chandriká, which has been adopted here as the law on adoption, and has been invariably and unscrupulously followed in practice, in preference to all other authorities on the subject.f The conpilation of Raghunandouň is, no doubt, respected in Bengal as a very high authority, yet on the subjects of inheritanoe and adoption preference is given respectively to the Báyabhága rf Jimüta-váÃana and I)uttaku-Chandriká of 1)rránanda-Bhatta. • The difference of opinion between these two authorities with respect to this point armer from a 'ifference of grainmatical construction. The term in the original is Chudályi, ( ceremonio, having tonsure at the beginning. ) which is a compound epithet termed bahubrihi, which is again divided into tadguna sambiguána bahuhríhi and atadguna sambiyyána bahuhrihi ( inclusive and exclusive, ) The author of the I)attuÁư ('handriká tnainthins that the terIn Chúưú is not in luded in thc c vị rission thtodáhyi, and cottsequotly is of opinion that rites after the Chudá, that is commencing with the unvestiture, are required to be performed in the family of the adopter; whereas the author of the Dattak-Mimansi, maintaining that (httlá is included in Chudidyā holds that ritro enumercing with, that is, including (httdi, are to be performed in the adopter's na'ns: arul family Śre !) ('i, Se, t.. II. § 29. I) .Mim. Sect. V. § 22 t The limitation to the age of five year" is founded on a passa: in the Asiliki-jurina, but the authority of the passage is doubtful "The Dattrtka-(handrik6 taal. no in 'ntion of at. though the Dattaka-Mimánri does. The latter being a Henari's authority, it inay to proper to apply the liniting Principle to that province, but not to ion: l or the he on, where that principle is not only no recognised, but whér, it is doi:ied, and adoptions rotatinually take place at an age far exceeding ti v. y far- — Maen. H 1. vol. [ p. ; £ See Str. H I, vul 1. p 75 : vol II, p 2:30; Sutherland's Synti-1'. Head recoud, Mitäkshari ('i. ! Sect 11, $ 1:
