1284 ACCOUNT OF 



Brahme77.f ; none but the Sudvas are excluded from 

 this highest of dignities; for all the Saimyasis, after 

 death, are supposed to become Siddlia ; and of course 

 do not worship the Devatas, who are greatly their 

 inferiors. The Sannydsis never shave, but pull out 

 all their hair by the roots. They never wear a tur- 

 ban ; and are allowed to eat and drink but once a 

 day. In fact, they are very abstemious; and the old 

 Swa'mi, who, from his infirmities, expected soon to 

 become a god, mortified the flesh exceedingly. The 

 Gurus have the power of fining all their followers, 

 who cheat or lie, or who commit murder and adultery. 

 The fines are given to the god ; that is to his priest. 

 These G^/rw* excommunicate all those who eat animal 

 food, or fornicate with persons who are not Jains ; 

 which, of course, are looked upon as greater crimes 

 than those that are only punished by fine. The mar- 

 ried Brahmens act as priests for the gods, and as 

 Purdhitas for the inferior casts. The follower may 

 choose any Brahmen he pleases, for his Purohka. 

 The Brahmen receives alms ; and reads prayers on the 

 occasion ; as he does ako at the marriages, funerals, 

 and commemorations of the deceased ancestors of his 

 foMowers. 



The Jaim are spread all over India ; but at present 

 are not numerous any where, except in Tulava. They 

 alledge, that formerly they extended over the whole 

 of J'rt/a or Bharatacanda ; and that all those, who had 

 any just pretensions to be of Cshatriya descent, were 

 of their sect. It no doubt appears clear, that, in the 

 south of India, many powerful princes were their 

 followers, till the time of Ra'ma'nuja A'cha'rya. 

 They say, that, formerly they were very numerous in 

 Arabia ; but that, about J2500 years ago, a terrible 

 persecution took place, at Mecca, by orders of a king 

 named Pa'rswa Bhat'ta'raca, which forced great 

 numbers to come to this country. Their ideas of 

 3ii story and chronology, however, as usual with Br ah- 



