1. NED Manandhar & Vergati

Variants:

Modern Newar version

1. single unbroken grains of rice used for some holy purpose. 2. grains of rice, the husks of which have been carefully stripped off with the fingernails, so ast to be sure that the grains do not get broken. (such grains are offered to goddesses, especially the goddess of learning, at such a time four or five grains are taken and swallowed without touching the teeth so as to aid the worshipper in becoming learned.)

Etymology

Skt. akṣatā; Nep. achetā.

Further Details