Dr. Buchanan Hamilton on the Srdxcacs or Jains. 537 



very uncommon in this order of priesthood. These Yatis are the mere 

 agents of the Sri-pujyas, and according to their industry in performing their 

 duty, and especially in remitting contributions to tlie sage on whom they 

 depend, are entrusted with the care of a larger or smaller portion of his 

 flock, being removeable at his pleasure from one place to another. The 

 Yatis usually reside at one of the places (pausal) built for their master's 

 accommodation, and each has usually a pupil whom he educates to be his 

 successor. If he die without having educated a successor, the S/i-piijya is 

 his heir, and sends a new Yati to take charge of the office. In general 

 the Yatis can I'ead Sansci'it, but few of them understand much of that 

 language. 



Some holy men, called Sanbegis, make occasional visits to these districts : 

 they accept of nothing but what is absolutely necessary for each day's sub- 

 sistence, and are supposed literally to take no heed for to-morrow. 



The Srdxcacs of the S-d'etdmbara sect appear to have no proper Pjo'S/iifs, 

 or priests, for conducting their ceremonies, as each man worships the gods 

 for himself and presents his own offerings ; nor on such occasions is any 

 priest necessary to read prayers. Among them, however, has arisen an 

 order of Brdhmans called Bhojaks (eating), or Pushpakar (flower priests), 

 who attend at their temples and take the offerings, and on-that account are 

 usually called their Puruhits, although they are never employed to read 

 prayers. The account usually given is, that between two or three centuries 

 ago, the sect having imdergone persecution, these Brdhmans took arms in 

 their defence, and have ever since been allowed to have charge of the 

 temples, to receive the offerings, and to supply those who come to worship, 

 with turmeric, red-lead, and some other articles usually employed. All the 

 Bh(')jaks that I have seen adhered to the orthodox faith ; and the same may 

 be said of the garland-makers (Mdli), of whom one is usually attached to 

 each temple, to keep it clean and supply votaries with flowers. The Srdxvacs 

 of the Swetdmbara sect seem, indeed, to have little occasion for Purvhits ; 

 as of what arc called tlie ten acts (Dasa-karma) requiring the assistance of 

 priests among the orthodox, marriage alone is here accompanied by a re- 

 ligious ceremony; and any Brahman is employed to read the ceremony usual 

 on such occasions. The reason of this seems to be, that, the ceremony being 

 universal among their neiglibours, the Srdxcacs are afraiil, lest without it the 

 contract might not be considered valid. In the south it appears, from 

 Colonel Mackenzie's account, that the Jains attend to the performance of 



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