610 A short Account of the Charak Pija Ceremonies, [Duc. 1833. 
This act is performed by the Sudra class only, and generally by the 
lowest castes and most dissipated characters ; some of them consider 
it as an act of piety and religion, in commemoration of the austerities 
performed by Vana Raja, a king and Daitya, who by acts of self-torture 
and denial obtained the special favour of Maua’peva, and who first 
introduced the festival; but the greatest number engage init asa 
lucrative exhibition, or from a desire to acquire a character for courage 
in the opinion of their friends. In some cases, the rite is compulsory : 
the parents make a vow to Srva, when involved in trouble. and disas- 
ters, that their children shall perform Sanydsas, for a certain number 
of years, which the sons must fulfil. 
The form and manner of Sanydsas varies : the original ceremonies 
consisted of, 
1. Phala Sanydsa, playing with fruits. 
2. Phula Sanyasa, do. flowers. 
3. Nila Sanydsa, worshipping Nivavatti, a goddess. 
4, Jhula Sanyasa, hanging, and 
5. Charak, swinging. These have been multiplied, and additions 
have been introduced by the people according to their fancy. 
The original rules have mostly fallen into disuse, and new ones 
have been substituted, as convenience required. The time of Sanydsa 
has been reduced from 30 days to 15, 8, 4, and 2, and in some cases 
only one day is taken. The ceremony which was called an act of piety, 
is converted into an occasion of dissipation, drinking, gambling, and 
acts of immorality. 
The following are the ceremonies at present in practice : 
1. Phala Bhanga and Wdnta Sanydsa, or falling upon the branches 
of prickly plants, spread on the ground, collecting them, as well as fruits, 
and living solely upon fruits: the Sanydsis go in company, and 
climb upon date and cocoanut trees, and collect fruits; when they 
come back to the place of Stva, with the fruits so collected, they throw 
and distribute the same; they also receive presents of fruits. Barren 
women resort to the place, on the occasion, and spread cloths, on 
which if by accident a fruit falls, they receive it with joy as an omen 
of their becoming pregnant through the favour of Srva; at the same 
season, the Mula Sanydsi with his deputy goes into a forest, a burial 
place, or on the bank of river, &c. and there performs the worship of 
Yama (king of death), and presents, as offerings to the evil spirits, boiled 
rice and reasted fish, 
Pata Sanydsa.—Falling from a scaffold erected before Siva, upon 
a row of Batt or knives. It is called Hata Sandysa and Ghdti 
