1835.] Hindu Schismatics in Western India. 78 



age and saturnine temper, instructs females in the same acquire- 

 ments. 



The remaining five, with three disciples chosen indifferently from 

 among those mentioned above, form a council of eight, appointed by 

 the Mahant, to investigate into offences and infringements of the rules 

 of the order. The elder ecclesiastics have usually several disciples, 

 who are byragis, and in event of the absence of a member rilling an 

 office in the establishment at Shahpura, a trust-worthy follower offici- 

 ates as his deputy. 



Of the Priests called Bedehi and Mohani. 



Bedehi, compounded of two words be, without, and deh, body, im- 

 plies that the persons so denominated are dead to all corporeal feeling, 

 and accordingly they go stark naked. 



The Mohani, as the term indicates, feign insensibility and uncon- 

 sciousness of all that passes around them. Priests who have not suf- 

 ficient command over their tongues become " Mohani," not for life, 

 but a period of years ; and when they have brought their hasty tempers 

 into complete subjection, they resume the use of speech. They repeat 

 " Ram, Ram," the watch-word of the sect, in acknowledgment of a 

 salutation, and permit themselves to converse and answer questions on 

 subjects strictly confined to their religion. With exception to the 

 particulars noted, the Bedehi and Mohani differ in no respect from the 

 other priests. 



The hungry, be their creed what it may, are never sent away empty 

 from the temple, and the ragged are provided with suitable raiment. 

 During Chyt, Bysakh, and Jeth, or from the middle of March to the 

 middle of June, the hottest period of the year, the mahant stations a 

 brahman*, with water-carriers at a distance of two miles from Shah~ 

 pura, on the different roads leading to the city, to minister to the 

 wants of the thirsty traveller. And all the cattle of the town receive 

 a certain allowance of fodder and water during the above season from 

 the same bountiful source. 



It will be seen, that the doctrine of the Ramsanehis inculcates the 

 mortification of the passions, with entire abstraction from the world, 

 and the renunciation of all its pleasures and enjoyments. The two 

 sins held in most abhorrence are incontinence and avarice, and are 

 never forgiven. The dress of the priesthood is kept scrupulously 

 neat and clean, and changed, I believe, every day, or second day, and 



* It is barely necessary to mention, that a brahman is chosen, because Hindus 

 of inferior caste, and I might include foreigners, are gratified to accept the beverage 

 from his hand, while they might hesitate to take it from a man of low tribe. 



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