DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0487
470
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Sri Vaish-
navam.
I
CHAPTER that contained the life of Rama Jnuja, is said to have been written
by that personage. In it, according to the Brahmans of his native
place, he modestly writes, that he is an incarnation of four deities.
The book contains also a similar account of the lives of the other
seventeen prophets; and the Brahmans here look upon it as of
excellent authority, although several of these prophets lived after
llama Anuja was dead. The Brahmans here, on consulting their
copy of the Guru Para, agree with those of Tonuru concerning the
year in which their chief was born, namely, in the year of Sal. 939
A. D. 1016.
The Sri Vaishnavam look upon their '-Gurus, both Sannydsis and
hereditary, as men highly favoured by God ; but not as actual
divinities. They have the power of exempting from future trans-
migrations all persons on whom they bestow Upadisa and Chakran-
tikam. The souls of the happy people who are thus exempted from
change live in a heaven called Veicunta, and there serve Vishnu.
This sect do not admit of the absorption of the spirits of good men
into the essence of the deity, a doctrine that seems to prevail
chiefly among the worshippers of Siva. The Sri Vaishnavam say,
that Brahma is the son of Vishnu, and the father of Siva; but they
pray to Vishnu alone, as the preserver of all living beings, and as the
supreme deity.
Before the appearance of Rama Anuja, the most prevailing sects
in this neighbourhood were the followers of Buddha, and the
Charvaca. Both now seem to have become quite extinct.
Rent and The officer of revenue (Amin) says, that the Tank here waters
tenures of
rice-ground. 1000 acres of land, each containing 100 Guntas of 24 feet square.
The extent of irrigated ground is therefore rather more than 1322
English acres. This land pays 1700 Pagodas a year to the govern-
ment, and 600 Pagodas to temples, revenue officers, &c. &c; in all,
* 2300 Pagodas, worth at the Tower mint 845/. i2s. \0\d. which is at
the rate of l'2s. 9\d. an acre. This land is private property, and
may be either sold or mortgaged, in a-tnanner exactly similar to that
Heretical
sects.
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Sri Vaish-
navam.
I
CHAPTER that contained the life of Rama Jnuja, is said to have been written
by that personage. In it, according to the Brahmans of his native
place, he modestly writes, that he is an incarnation of four deities.
The book contains also a similar account of the lives of the other
seventeen prophets; and the Brahmans here look upon it as of
excellent authority, although several of these prophets lived after
llama Anuja was dead. The Brahmans here, on consulting their
copy of the Guru Para, agree with those of Tonuru concerning the
year in which their chief was born, namely, in the year of Sal. 939
A. D. 1016.
The Sri Vaishnavam look upon their '-Gurus, both Sannydsis and
hereditary, as men highly favoured by God ; but not as actual
divinities. They have the power of exempting from future trans-
migrations all persons on whom they bestow Upadisa and Chakran-
tikam. The souls of the happy people who are thus exempted from
change live in a heaven called Veicunta, and there serve Vishnu.
This sect do not admit of the absorption of the spirits of good men
into the essence of the deity, a doctrine that seems to prevail
chiefly among the worshippers of Siva. The Sri Vaishnavam say,
that Brahma is the son of Vishnu, and the father of Siva; but they
pray to Vishnu alone, as the preserver of all living beings, and as the
supreme deity.
Before the appearance of Rama Anuja, the most prevailing sects
in this neighbourhood were the followers of Buddha, and the
Charvaca. Both now seem to have become quite extinct.
Rent and The officer of revenue (Amin) says, that the Tank here waters
tenures of
rice-ground. 1000 acres of land, each containing 100 Guntas of 24 feet square.
The extent of irrigated ground is therefore rather more than 1322
English acres. This land pays 1700 Pagodas a year to the govern-
ment, and 600 Pagodas to temples, revenue officers, &c. &c; in all,
* 2300 Pagodas, worth at the Tower mint 845/. i2s. \0\d. which is at
the rate of l'2s. 9\d. an acre. This land is private property, and
may be either sold or mortgaged, in a-tnanner exactly similar to that
Heretical
sects.