Punish

Quote

The scale of oaths, in order of increasing severity, is this: (1) to assert ‘it is true!’ (2) to pull up some grass with the finger-nails and throw it onto the meeting-ground; (3) to touch the ground with one hand; (4) to put a cloth one is wearing on the ground and step over it; (5) to lay one’s child on the ground and step over him—if a false oath, the child will magically die; (6) if non-vegetarian, to sacrifice a goat at the temple; (7) to visit the temple at a set time and swear one’s innocence before the god. Divine punishment will fall on whoever breaks such oaths.

• Source: Hockings, Paul. Ancient Hindu refugees: Badaga social history 1550-1975. The Hague ; New York: Mouton, 1980.
• Culture: Badaga
• Location: Asia