DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31218#0316
THE CASTE SYSTEM OF NORTHERN INDIA
and no Brahman would ordinarily serve them; though
they liave sometimes attempted to induce him to do so.
(d) The fourth group consists of various gipsy tribes,
the Sansiya, the Bajaniya Nat, tlie Bawariya, Bajgi, Ben-
gali, and Habura. The last-named occasionally give
Brahmans some uncooked grain at their funeral cere-
monies; but that seems to constitute their sole dealings
witli tliem.
(e) The fifth group consists of three related tribes, the
Bhuiyas, Bhuiyars, and the greater part of the Musahars.
A very few of the last named, who have settled down to
village life, consult Brahmans as astrologers. But the
group generally will have none of tlieir ministrations, pre-
ferring their own baigas; whilst the Bhuiyar caste, which,
like the Patari, provides many of these aboriginal priests,
affects to despise them, and even relates a ribaid legend of
them.
(/) The next group consists of the Beldar and Kharot
castes, which belong to the same familv as the Luniyas,
Orhs, and Binds. The last two castes have risen in the
social scale sufficiently to receive the services of Brahmans
of low degree; and no doubt their relatives will do so too
in time.
(g) The last group consists of three hill or submon-
tane tribes—the hill Dom, the Raji, and the Tharu.
The last-named has occasionally made attempts to secure
the ministrations of Brahmans, but so far with very little
success.
The previous discussion may now be summarized as
follows. As the result of various causes,
27. Summary Hinduism is a bewildering collection of
diverse beliefs, doctrines, and practices.
These can, however, be divided into two main classes.
Firstly, there are those that relate mainly to the
great Hindu gods in their various aspects, of whom the
chief are Siva, Vishnu, and their consorts; and secondly,
there are those which spring from various non-Aryan
sources, and relate to minor deities of all kinds—second-
ary gods, godlings, ancestors, canonized saints and
heroes, animals, and even natural objects. The first class
302
and no Brahman would ordinarily serve them; though
they liave sometimes attempted to induce him to do so.
(d) The fourth group consists of various gipsy tribes,
the Sansiya, the Bajaniya Nat, tlie Bawariya, Bajgi, Ben-
gali, and Habura. The last-named occasionally give
Brahmans some uncooked grain at their funeral cere-
monies; but that seems to constitute their sole dealings
witli tliem.
(e) The fifth group consists of three related tribes, the
Bhuiyas, Bhuiyars, and the greater part of the Musahars.
A very few of the last named, who have settled down to
village life, consult Brahmans as astrologers. But the
group generally will have none of tlieir ministrations, pre-
ferring their own baigas; whilst the Bhuiyar caste, which,
like the Patari, provides many of these aboriginal priests,
affects to despise them, and even relates a ribaid legend of
them.
(/) The next group consists of the Beldar and Kharot
castes, which belong to the same familv as the Luniyas,
Orhs, and Binds. The last two castes have risen in the
social scale sufficiently to receive the services of Brahmans
of low degree; and no doubt their relatives will do so too
in time.
(g) The last group consists of three hill or submon-
tane tribes—the hill Dom, the Raji, and the Tharu.
The last-named has occasionally made attempts to secure
the ministrations of Brahmans, but so far with very little
success.
The previous discussion may now be summarized as
follows. As the result of various causes,
27. Summary Hinduism is a bewildering collection of
diverse beliefs, doctrines, and practices.
These can, however, be divided into two main classes.
Firstly, there are those that relate mainly to the
great Hindu gods in their various aspects, of whom the
chief are Siva, Vishnu, and their consorts; and secondly,
there are those which spring from various non-Aryan
sources, and relate to minor deities of all kinds—second-
ary gods, godlings, ancestors, canonized saints and
heroes, animals, and even natural objects. The first class
302