DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2373#0362
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reof/r %
the yoke ofu
H
eo;;
lrncd of
de?O0
ereditaryc^
led Mmw
remain, &
g the interpr;;
yffJS and sow
1, and somen
disciples bete
ream are difli
at together,
south from
irtal or
and many,
d in these
consist in
ihij) *#a
s, the"'
,ry necf
charily *
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR.
333
ceremonies are reserved for the three higher casts only; and of CH\pter
these the second is entirely extinct. Those who are pretenders to v*
this rank are by the Brahmans treated merely as Sudra. On solemn July 16.
occasions the Panchdngas, or village astrologers, read some prayers
to the Siidras ; but they are not taken from the Vedas, and are con-
sidered as of very little efficacy. These Brahmans do not consider
themselves as at all bound to instruct the Siidras, nor to prevent
them from offering bloody sacrifices to evil spirits.
According* to my informer, the Aayngar always existed; but
befoi'e the time of Rama Anuja, from the want of charity, they had
fallen into a low state; for at that time the worshippers of Linga,
Jain, and Buddha, three of the twenty-one heretical sects, were
very numerous. The hereditary chiefs do not send fixed deputies
to reside among their distant followers ; but they occasionally send
agents to make circuits, bestow Chakrdntikam, and receive charity.
My informer insists positively, that the Sannydsis never bestow
their Upadisa on any person, but their intended successor; lest the
Brahman so dignified should establish a separate throne. Sometimes
the intended successor gets the Upadesa early, and is sent to travel
till his predecessor dies. The agents employed by the Sannyasis,
to prevent them from aspiring to the dignity of their masters, are
always married men.
The Numbi are an inferior order of Brahmans, whose duty is to Numbi Brah-
act as Pujdrism the temples. They are all Vaidika, and never follow
any worldly occupation; but are despised, on account of their re-
ceiving fixed wages for performing their duty. The other Brahmans
originally, perhaps, all lived by begging, which is the proper occu-
pation of the cast, and the most dignified manner of living, as being
most agreeable to God; and in consequence acquired an hereditary
superiority over the Numbis, which is kept up even by the Lokika,
who have betaken themselves to worldly business, and who for
wages will serve even men. "Whatever may be the cause, no Lokika,
mans.
reof/r %
the yoke ofu
H
eo;;
lrncd of
de?O0
ereditaryc^
led Mmw
remain, &
g the interpr;;
yffJS and sow
1, and somen
disciples bete
ream are difli
at together,
south from
irtal or
and many,
d in these
consist in
ihij) *#a
s, the"'
,ry necf
charily *
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR.
333
ceremonies are reserved for the three higher casts only; and of CH\pter
these the second is entirely extinct. Those who are pretenders to v*
this rank are by the Brahmans treated merely as Sudra. On solemn July 16.
occasions the Panchdngas, or village astrologers, read some prayers
to the Siidras ; but they are not taken from the Vedas, and are con-
sidered as of very little efficacy. These Brahmans do not consider
themselves as at all bound to instruct the Siidras, nor to prevent
them from offering bloody sacrifices to evil spirits.
According* to my informer, the Aayngar always existed; but
befoi'e the time of Rama Anuja, from the want of charity, they had
fallen into a low state; for at that time the worshippers of Linga,
Jain, and Buddha, three of the twenty-one heretical sects, were
very numerous. The hereditary chiefs do not send fixed deputies
to reside among their distant followers ; but they occasionally send
agents to make circuits, bestow Chakrdntikam, and receive charity.
My informer insists positively, that the Sannydsis never bestow
their Upadisa on any person, but their intended successor; lest the
Brahman so dignified should establish a separate throne. Sometimes
the intended successor gets the Upadesa early, and is sent to travel
till his predecessor dies. The agents employed by the Sannyasis,
to prevent them from aspiring to the dignity of their masters, are
always married men.
The Numbi are an inferior order of Brahmans, whose duty is to Numbi Brah-
act as Pujdrism the temples. They are all Vaidika, and never follow
any worldly occupation; but are despised, on account of their re-
ceiving fixed wages for performing their duty. The other Brahmans
originally, perhaps, all lived by begging, which is the proper occu-
pation of the cast, and the most dignified manner of living, as being
most agreeable to God; and in consequence acquired an hereditary
superiority over the Numbis, which is kept up even by the Lokika,
who have betaken themselves to worldly business, and who for
wages will serve even men. "Whatever may be the cause, no Lokika,
mans.