74. 



RELIGIOUS SECTS 



The doctrine of outward conformity, and the absence of visible objects 

 of worship have prevented this sect from spreading very generally through- 

 out India : it is, however, very widely diffused, and as I have observed, has 

 o-iven rise to many others, that have borrowed its phraseology, and caught a 

 considerable portion of its spirit : the sect itself is split into a variety of sub- 

 divisions, and there are no fewer than twelve branches of it traced up to the 

 founder, between which a difference of opinion, as well as descent prevails : 

 the founders of these twelve branches, and the position of their descendants, are 

 the following: — 



1. Srutgopal Das, the author of the Sukli Nidhdn : his successors pre- 

 side over the Chaura at Benares, the SamddJi at Magar, an establishment at 

 Jaganndfh, and one at Dwdrakd. 



2. Bhago Das, the author of the BijeJc, his successors reside at Dhanautu 



3. Narai/an Das, and 



4. Churdman Das ; these two were the sons of Dherma Das, a merchant 

 of the Kasaundhya tribe, of the Sri Vaishnwoa sect, and one of Kahir^s first 

 and most important converts ; his residence was at Bandho near JebbelpuVj 

 where the Mafhs of his posterity long remained : the Mahants were family 

 men, thence termed Ba7is Gurus : the line of Narayan Das is extinct, and 

 the present successor of Churdman, being the son of a concubine, is not ac- 

 knowledged as a Mahant by all the other branches. 



_ 5. Jaggo Das, the Gaddi or Pillow at Cuttack. 



6. Jivan Das, the founder of the Setndmi sect, to whom we shall again 

 have occasion to advert. 



7. Kamdl. — Bombay : the followers of this teacher practise the Yoga. 

 Kamal himself, is said to have been the son of Kabir, but the only authority 

 for this is a popular and proverbial phrase.* 



* ^^ 4^ ^flT ^T %^1T3ifT ^^ ^^r^ II " The Race of Kabir became extinct 

 •when his son KamAl was born," Kamal adopting, on principle, a life of celibacy, or being a 

 person of worldly appetites.— Roebuck's Proverbs, 2. 1. 656. 



