SECTS OF HINDOOS. 



communicated by early and later travellers to eaftern retjions 

 on the fubjeft of thefe diftinftions. In common with thefe 

 writers, we have alfo ufed the term cajl, or cajh, though 

 we are not aware of any claffical authority for the word. 

 We are difpofed to think it introduced by the Portuguefe ; 

 and it is now, and has been for many years, as common in the 

 mouths of natives as of Europeans, efpecially on the coaft 

 of Coromandel. We do not afBrm that the word is not of 

 Sanfcrit origin, and in truth it founds very like it : but we 

 have never met with the word in eaftern writings, nor heard 

 it ufed by natives beyond the reach of European colloquial 

 influence. 



In confidering the divifion and fubdivii'ion of the numerous 

 race of Hindoos, we are difpofed to feparate them into 

 theological, civil, and philofophical claflcs or tribes. Theologi- 

 cally we find two grand divifions, the Saivas, who worftlip 

 Siva, and the Vailhnavas, who worfliio Vifhnu : thefe are 

 numeroufly fubdivided, as we (hall notice prefently, as are 

 the many fchifmatics who efientially or trivially diflent from 

 both, and are probably numerically equal to both, under 

 the generic denomination of Budhas or Baudhifts, and its 

 various fpecific varieties. Tiie cfuil grand dis-ifions are four, 

 I'is. Brahman, KJlietriya, Vaifya, and Siiilra. As the two 

 former theological grand diviiions compriie the whole race 

 of Hindoos (leaving for the prefent the fchilmatics out of 

 the quellion), fo do likewife thefe four civil tribes or grand 

 divifions : either of the four may be theologicallv a Saiva or 

 a Vaifhnava, as his parents may have taught, or his feelings 

 led him. Thefe four civil grand divifions ai'e fubdivided 

 into almoft innumerable dillintlions and varieties. Here 

 follows a brief outline of the diflinclions of thefe four great 

 civil tribes. I. Brahman. This is a fmall tribe in point of 

 number ; but in power paramount. Intelleft is power ; 

 and, with a few exceptions, the intelleftual wealth of India 

 is confined to the Brahmanical treafury. As among the 

 Jews all prieils were taken from the tribe of Levi, fo with 

 the Hindoos the tribe of Brahman exclufively furniflies the 

 prielthood. All Hindoo prieils are therefore Brahmans, 

 but all Brahmans are not priefts. Minifters and public 

 officers of ftate are very commonly Brahmans, even in 

 Mahoir.medan governments ; and they are occafionally mer- 

 chants, and even foldiers. In both the Briti(h and native 

 armies of India, are many Brahmans. The two Mahratta 

 generals whofe names are beft known in England, Purferam 

 Bhon and Hurry Punt, were both Brahmans. A Brahman 

 is pointedly prohibited from becoming a king : royalty ap- 

 pertains to the fecond tribe. (See Peshwa.) In the Gita, 

 a work profoundly venerated by numerous fefts, the duties 

 of the four tribes are verj- concifely and plainly Hated. «' The 

 natural duty of the Brahman is peace, fclf-rcilraint, zeal, pu- 

 rity, patience, reftitude, wifdom, learning, and theology." 

 Gita, p. 130. (See Mahabarat. ) The word Brahman 

 means a theologill or divine: derived from Brahm, the divi- 

 nity. Pandit, corruptly Punt, means a learned Brahman, or 

 philofopher ; hence panditya, philofophy. Among the Mah- 

 rattas, where Brahmans are very numerous, the title of 

 Punt is affumed by many individuals : feldom, if ever, by 

 thofe in low ftations. In very low or bafe occupations Brah- 

 mans are, indeed, never feen. The names of individuals 

 often indicate their feft. Purferam Bhon, above-mentioned, 

 we fhould infer to have been of the grand divifion Vaiilinava, 

 and of the fed of Ramanuj. (See Par asu Rama, which 

 is the claffical mode of writing and pronouncing his name, 

 and Ramanuj.) Hurry Punt, is from his name known 

 to have been a Brahman (Pandit) of the grand divifion 

 Saiva : Hari (corruptly Hurry) being a name of Siva. 

 See Siva. 



2. KJhetriya, ufually prononnced Ketri, or Kflietri, is the 

 fecond civil grand divifion. It is the warrior tribe ; comprif- 

 ing all foldiers, who alone can lawfully become kings. (See 

 Peshwa.) All the other tribes, however, furnifti foldiers ; 

 and, indeed, princes too, if the ambitious individual can 

 efFe(ft it. " The natural duties of the Kfhetri are bravery, 

 glory, fortitude, reiSitude, not to flee from the field, genero- 

 fity, and princely condud." (Gita, ib.) This grand divifion 

 is very numerous. Some hundreds of different feels might 

 be enumerated as belonging to it, and many hundreds would 

 ftill be omitted. The Ayin Akbery ttates, (vol. iii. p. 87. 

 Calcutta cd.) that of the tribe of Kftietri, there are up- 

 wards of five hundred fubdivifions, fifty-two of whom are 

 in eileem, and twelve particularly fo. Of one of thefe 

 fubdivifions, that of Rajput, the fame authority fays there 

 are upwards of a thoufand different feds. The term Rajput, 

 or rather Rajaputra, means offspring of kings ; a tiile af- 

 fumed by various warrior tribes in the north of India ; in- 

 dividuals of which are pretty numeroufly fpread in the 

 fouthern and other provinces, wherever good pay invites their 

 fervices. 



3. Vaifya, vulgarly called Vais, or Bhyfe, is the tribe 

 next in rank to the military. This is a very numerous tribe, 

 comprifing merchants, traders, and cultivators. In this, 

 that is, praftifing its avocations, are found many individuals 

 of the three others. " The natural duty of the Vaifya is," 

 according to the Gita, " to cultivate the land, tend the cattle, 

 and buy and fell." (Ibid.) This tribe is numeroufly fub- 

 divided like the others. It contains a great proportion of 

 wealthy individuals. The fubdivifion of Vania, or Bania, 

 called by the Englifli Banyan, belongs to this clafs, and is 

 laid to comprehend eighty-four different fedls : it being 

 only itfelf a tribe of this third grand divifion, or of 

 Vaifya. 



It is underftood, that all the individuals of the three firft 

 tribes or feCls above named, are tulceptible of regeneration, 

 by a mylterioui initiation in the gayatri, and the inveiliture 

 of a holy thread called zennaar. Such individuals are called 

 tnvice-horn. See our articles O'm and Zennaar for farther 

 notice of thefe particulars. 



4. Sudra. In this is comprifed mechanics, artifans, and 

 labourers of every defcription. In the profecution of the 

 Sudras' avocations, individuals of the fecond and third tribes 

 or claffes will be found ; and occafionally, though compa- 

 ratively but rarely, of the firft. Many mechanics and artifans 

 are of the third clafs. " The natural duty of the Sudra is 

 fervitude." Gita. 



This arrangement into cafts or fefts, tribes or grand 

 divifions, is, as before noticed, of very early origin. In 

 the Inltitutes of Menu, (fee Menu,) we find it laid down as 

 of theremotell antiquity; and, as is ufual with every thing 

 relating to the Hindoos, traced to a mythological fource. 

 " That the human race might be multiplied, he (the fu- 

 preme lord, or Brahma) caufed the Brahman, the Klhetriya, 

 the Vaifya, and the Sudra, (fo named from the fcripture, 

 protedion, wealth, and labour,) to proceed from his mouth, 

 his arm, his thigh, and his foot." Ch. i. v. 31. 



In early times it is probable that thele diftinftions or 

 feparations were kept up and obferved with conliderable 

 Itridnefs, both in refped to intermarriages and avocations. 

 Thofe times were, however, anterior to the Inltitutes of 

 Menu, who gives names to the fpurious offspring of feda- 

 rial intermarriage ; wifely endeavouring to corred, what his 

 authority would prove unequal to prevent, or materially 

 reilrain. Denunciations, however, againft thefe illicit prac- 

 tices, fcxuai and handicraft, abound in the books of law ; 

 and abfolution from the fin thus incurred is doubtlefs one, 



and 



