DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0338
THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY. 221
holy places on pilgrimage; to eat with all casts who should
receive the preceding incantation; to repeat the name of
Vishnoo, using the bead-roll made with the stalk of basil.
He further taught that widows might marry; but forbad
the eating of fish or flesh, and the worship of the deities to
whom bloody sacrifices are offered, as well as all commu-
nion with those who make these sacrifices.
He went to Jugunnat'hu-kshetru in Orissa, and there
assuming six arms, received many honours. He exhorted
Cdwoitu and Nityanundu to labour in making proselytes;
but directed Nityanundu. to enter into a secular state?: he
did so, and took up his residence at Klmrdu, near Calcutta.
Choitunyu wrote to his two principal disciples from Orissa,
again exhorting them to labour in gaining proselytes ; yet
few or none joined them: and from this time Choitunyu
himself was never more heard of. Cdwoitu and Nityanundu
raised families, whose descendants live at Shantipooru,
Vagna-para, and Khfirdu to this day, where they are be-
come leaders of the sect; all other Gosaeesz acknowledging
the descendants of these two families as their superiors,
and prostrating themselves before them. These Gosaees
at present are men of large fortunes; at whose houses are
the images originally set up by the male descendant of
Choitunyu, by Nityanundu, and Odwoitu. Crovvds are
almost constantly arriving at these places with offerings:
besides which, the Gosaees derive a large revenue from
marriages, to superintend which they have agents distri-
buted throughout the country, who are allowed a sixth
part of the fee; a sum that from both parties amounts to
about six shillings. They also dissolve marriages at the
' Perceiving his aversion to a life of mendicity.
1 Distant branches of tlie same families.
holy places on pilgrimage; to eat with all casts who should
receive the preceding incantation; to repeat the name of
Vishnoo, using the bead-roll made with the stalk of basil.
He further taught that widows might marry; but forbad
the eating of fish or flesh, and the worship of the deities to
whom bloody sacrifices are offered, as well as all commu-
nion with those who make these sacrifices.
He went to Jugunnat'hu-kshetru in Orissa, and there
assuming six arms, received many honours. He exhorted
Cdwoitu and Nityanundu to labour in making proselytes;
but directed Nityanundu. to enter into a secular state?: he
did so, and took up his residence at Klmrdu, near Calcutta.
Choitunyu wrote to his two principal disciples from Orissa,
again exhorting them to labour in gaining proselytes ; yet
few or none joined them: and from this time Choitunyu
himself was never more heard of. Cdwoitu and Nityanundu
raised families, whose descendants live at Shantipooru,
Vagna-para, and Khfirdu to this day, where they are be-
come leaders of the sect; all other Gosaeesz acknowledging
the descendants of these two families as their superiors,
and prostrating themselves before them. These Gosaees
at present are men of large fortunes; at whose houses are
the images originally set up by the male descendant of
Choitunyu, by Nityanundu, and Odwoitu. Crovvds are
almost constantly arriving at these places with offerings:
besides which, the Gosaees derive a large revenue from
marriages, to superintend which they have agents distri-
buted throughout the country, who are allowed a sixth
part of the fee; a sum that from both parties amounts to
about six shillings. They also dissolve marriages at the
' Perceiving his aversion to a life of mendicity.
1 Distant branches of tlie same families.