DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2373#0032
14
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Sri Vaish-
tiatum.
Madual.
CHAPTER, consider their souls as being portions of the divinity, and do not
believe in transmigration as a punishment for sin. They are readily
distinguished by three horizontal stripes on the forehead, made
with the ashes of cow-dung.
The next most numerous sect of the Brdhmans here, are the fol-
lowers of Rama Anuja Achdrya, who form about three tenths of the
whole. They are called Sri Vaishnavum and A'ayngar, and may
readily be known by three vertical marks on the forehead, con-
nected by a common line above the nose, and formed of a white
clay. They abhor Iswara, calling him the chief of the Rdkshasa, or
devils, and worship only Vishnu, and the gods of his family. They
form two sects ; the JVadagalay, who believe in transmigration, and
the Tangalay, who do not.
The Madual form the remaining two tenths of the Brdhmans.
These use the vertical marks on the forehead, which are appropriate
to the followers of Vishnu; but they worship Siva also ; they believe
in the generation of the gods in a literal sense, thinking Vishnu to
be the father of Brahma, and Brahma to be the father of Siva.
All these sects admit the authority of the same Purdns; but each
sect explains some obscure passages so as to confirm its own
doctrines.
Each sect of Brdhmans has here a number of followers, in propor
tion nearly to its own comparative strength. This, I am told, is not
the case in Bengal, where the sect of Iszvara or Mahaddva prevails
among the Brdhmans, while that of Vishnu is the most common
among the vulgar.
27th April.—In the morning I went to Oulur Sdt-ghadam, which
is a Choultry, or inn, with hardly any houses in its neighbourhood ;
but it is remarkable for having formerly had seven hill-forts in its
vicinity; and from this circumstance it derives its appellation, Sdt-
ghadam. In the Decany dialect of the Musulman language, Ghadam
signifies a fortress situated on a hill, while Kilah is applied to one
built on a plain. In the Sanscrit language, Patanam or Patana is
Various
names for
forts.
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Sri Vaish-
tiatum.
Madual.
CHAPTER, consider their souls as being portions of the divinity, and do not
believe in transmigration as a punishment for sin. They are readily
distinguished by three horizontal stripes on the forehead, made
with the ashes of cow-dung.
The next most numerous sect of the Brdhmans here, are the fol-
lowers of Rama Anuja Achdrya, who form about three tenths of the
whole. They are called Sri Vaishnavum and A'ayngar, and may
readily be known by three vertical marks on the forehead, con-
nected by a common line above the nose, and formed of a white
clay. They abhor Iswara, calling him the chief of the Rdkshasa, or
devils, and worship only Vishnu, and the gods of his family. They
form two sects ; the JVadagalay, who believe in transmigration, and
the Tangalay, who do not.
The Madual form the remaining two tenths of the Brdhmans.
These use the vertical marks on the forehead, which are appropriate
to the followers of Vishnu; but they worship Siva also ; they believe
in the generation of the gods in a literal sense, thinking Vishnu to
be the father of Brahma, and Brahma to be the father of Siva.
All these sects admit the authority of the same Purdns; but each
sect explains some obscure passages so as to confirm its own
doctrines.
Each sect of Brdhmans has here a number of followers, in propor
tion nearly to its own comparative strength. This, I am told, is not
the case in Bengal, where the sect of Iszvara or Mahaddva prevails
among the Brdhmans, while that of Vishnu is the most common
among the vulgar.
27th April.—In the morning I went to Oulur Sdt-ghadam, which
is a Choultry, or inn, with hardly any houses in its neighbourhood ;
but it is remarkable for having formerly had seven hill-forts in its
vicinity; and from this circumstance it derives its appellation, Sdt-
ghadam. In the Decany dialect of the Musulman language, Ghadam
signifies a fortress situated on a hill, while Kilah is applied to one
built on a plain. In the Sanscrit language, Patanam or Patana is
Various
names for
forts.