DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.644#0333
3io
GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN.
jBrahmins. The Brabmins are the well known chief of the religious Or-
ders of the Hindoos, created hy the deity Brimba from his
mouth, as his was the bnfinefs to inftrudr. mankind in religious
duties, and the Brabmins alfb were permitted to read the vedas,
■or facred books. Their perfons were facred, and to kill a Brah-
mt n was one of the five fins inexpiable in this or the next world.
Every prieft muü be a Brabmin, but every Brabmin is not a
■prieft. They mingle in feveral fecular employs. They are
prime minifters, embafTadors, and of other worldly bufinefTes.
Notwithitanding they profefs an abhorrence to the fhedding of
blood, and never eat of any thing that has had life in it, yet
they engage in the military line in difFerent ftations *. Hurry
Punt was a Brabmin of the firft rank, and Pufferam Bbow was
• alfo a Brabmin, and yet both of thefe were a&ive leaders in the
Mahratta armies, which confederated with us in the late war
againft Tippoo t.
The common drefs of the Brabmins are fhort robes, which
do not reach below the knees; over their flioulders is a loofe
mantle, and on their breaft hangs, from the left fhoulder, the
Zennar, or facred ftring, made of a certain kind of cotton.
They wear beards long and venerable. Their heads, like thofe of
other Hindoos, are fhaven, and only one long lock left behind j.
The Khatre. Let me here mention the three other greater caßs, made by
Brimba. I refer to volume i. p. 56, for an aeconnt of the
warrior, or Kbatre, who was formed from his arms, and his
duty was to defend the people, to govern and to command.
« Dirom's Campaigns, p. 7.
f Moore's Narrative, p. 166, to which is annexed a very ridiculous tale.
% Sketches of the Hindoos, ii. p. 41.
8
The
GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN.
jBrahmins. The Brabmins are the well known chief of the religious Or-
ders of the Hindoos, created hy the deity Brimba from his
mouth, as his was the bnfinefs to inftrudr. mankind in religious
duties, and the Brabmins alfb were permitted to read the vedas,
■or facred books. Their perfons were facred, and to kill a Brah-
mt n was one of the five fins inexpiable in this or the next world.
Every prieft muü be a Brabmin, but every Brabmin is not a
■prieft. They mingle in feveral fecular employs. They are
prime minifters, embafTadors, and of other worldly bufinefTes.
Notwithitanding they profefs an abhorrence to the fhedding of
blood, and never eat of any thing that has had life in it, yet
they engage in the military line in difFerent ftations *. Hurry
Punt was a Brabmin of the firft rank, and Pufferam Bbow was
• alfo a Brabmin, and yet both of thefe were a&ive leaders in the
Mahratta armies, which confederated with us in the late war
againft Tippoo t.
The common drefs of the Brabmins are fhort robes, which
do not reach below the knees; over their flioulders is a loofe
mantle, and on their breaft hangs, from the left fhoulder, the
Zennar, or facred ftring, made of a certain kind of cotton.
They wear beards long and venerable. Their heads, like thofe of
other Hindoos, are fhaven, and only one long lock left behind j.
The Khatre. Let me here mention the three other greater caßs, made by
Brimba. I refer to volume i. p. 56, for an aeconnt of the
warrior, or Kbatre, who was formed from his arms, and his
duty was to defend the people, to govern and to command.
« Dirom's Campaigns, p. 7.
f Moore's Narrative, p. 166, to which is annexed a very ridiculous tale.
% Sketches of the Hindoos, ii. p. 41.
8
The