THE JAINS. 249 



and fulfilling of vows for the attainment of wishes. 

 6" Giving to the poor. 



There are three classes of Yatis, or ascetics, among 

 the Jains, viz. Amarata, Mahavrata, Nirvana. To 

 attain the rank of Amrcrata, one must forsake his 

 family, entirely cutting off his hair, throwing away 

 the sacred thread, holding in his hand a bundle of 

 peacock's feathers, and an eartlien pot (Caman'd'alu), 

 and wearing only tawny coloured clothes : he must 

 reside for some time in one of their temples. He 

 next proceeds to the second v^xik Mahavrata ; when, 

 totally abandoning any degree of elegance in his 

 dress, he uses only a rag to cover his nakedness, as a 

 Brahmachari : he still retains the fan and pot; he 

 must not shave the head Avith razors, but employs 

 his disciples to pull out the hair by the roots *. On 

 the day, on which this operation is performed, he 

 abstains from food ; at other times he eats only once, 

 daily, of rice put in the palm of his hand. Having, 

 for a considerable time, remained in this state of pro- 

 bation, he attains the third degree of A'irtYW^ ; he 

 then lays aside even rags, and, being quite naked, he 

 eats, once every second day, of rice, put by others 

 in the palm of his hand ; carrying about with him 

 the clay pot and a bundle of peacock's feathers : it is 

 the business of his disciples to pull out his hairs ; and 

 he is not to walk, or move about, after the sun sets. 

 He now is called by the dignified title of Nirmti ; 

 and the Jains worship him as god of their tribe, in 

 like manner as the images, which they worship in 

 their temples, of their ancient Nircans or Gurus. 

 Yet they say, that these are not the likeness of God ; 

 " because no one knows God, or has seen his likeness, 

 that he should be able to describe him." However, 

 they adore these images of their Nirvdna-nafhs as 

 gods. 



* To tbe effects of this operation, they attribute the appearance tfn 

 the heads of the images of tlieir Gurus, which Europeans suppose to 

 represent curly or woolly hair. C. M. 



