466 Notes on the " Mahapurushyas." [No. 6. 



Sankar particularly warned his followers against the commission of 

 the following crimes, which from their being particularized whilst 

 others of equal or greater importance are omitted, were doubtless those 

 that in the days of his admonitions were most prevalent — adultery, 

 theft, lying, pulling each other's hair, (!) or any violence to the person 

 of another. He also placed his interdict on the use of intoxicating 

 drugs, which is considered to extend even to the use of tobacco, and, in 

 addition to what is abstained from by all orthodox Hindus, he pro- 

 hibited his disciples from eating or even keeping ducks, pigeons, and 

 goats. Some of these prohibitions are not now much attended to. 



This sect of Vaishnavas make nine marks with the chandan or powder 

 of sandal-wood on the forehead, the bridge of the nose, the ears, breast, 

 and arms. As they make each mark they repeat some name but fur- 

 ther than this, the rationale of the marking they will not disclose. 

 Perhaps there is one mark for each of the accomplished incarnations 

 of Vishnu, or it may be, one for each of the nine Bidhs or modes of 

 acquiring knowledge. 



During the life-time of Sankar all the Vaishnavas acknowledged 

 him, and him only, as their spiritual head. On his death Madhab 

 succeeded to this position amongst the Mahapurushyas, but the first 

 Shusturiah or Adhikari of the Borpetah Shostro was a Udasin Bhakat 

 whose name was Mathura Dasa, but who was generally called and is 

 now spoken of as ° Bura Xta." He was selected for the office, and 

 installed in it by Madhab. Mathura Dasa before his death directed 

 the Bhakats in conjunction with the Mahants,* or heads of the subor- 

 dinate Shostros, to select a successor from the Brahman family of Rama 

 Rama Guru, the learned pundit who studied with Saiikar, a successor 

 was chosen in accordance with his wishes and since then the vacancies 

 in the office of Adhikari have always been filled by the descendants of 

 this Brahman. Some assert that such was the injunction of the last 

 Sudra Shusturiah, others contend that the Bhakats are not bound to 

 select from any particular family, but had there been no restriction on 

 their choice, it is not likely that the succession would have so long 

 continued in this one. There have been many sharply contested elec- 



* There are four families of these Mahants, all Sudras, one descended from the 

 Rama Dasa who married Madhab's sister, the other three from favorite disciples and 

 fellow-labourers of the two Mahapurushyas. They signify their ratification of the 

 Bhakats' selection by presenting the Shusturiah elect with the sacred " Mala." 



