78 RELIGIOUS SECTS 



the uniform belief of his followers is indeed sufficient testimony on this head, 

 and they are invariably agreed in making him contemporary with Aurengzeb. 



The modifications of the Vaishnava doctrines introduced by Mah'jk Das, 

 appear to have been little more than the name of the teacher, and a shorter 

 streak of red upon the forehead : in one respect indeed there is an important 

 distinction between these and the Rdmanandi ascetics, and the teachers of the 

 Mahik Ddsis appear to be of the secular order, Grihasthas, or house-holders, 

 whilst the others are all coenobites : the doctrines, however, are essentially the 

 same : Vishnu, as Rama, is the object of their practical adoration, and their 

 principles partake of the spirit of quietism, which pervades these sects : their 

 chief authority is the Bhagavat Gita, and they read some small Sanscrit 

 tracts, containing the praise of Rama: they have also some WmAi SakliiSy 

 and Vishnu Padas attributed to their founder, as also a work in the same 

 language, entitled the Dasratan : the followers of this sect are said to be 

 numerous in particular districts, especially amongst the trading and servile 

 classes, to the former of which the founder belonged.* 



The principal establishment of the Maliik Ddsis is at Kara ManiJcpur^ 

 the birth-place of the founder, and still occupied by his descendants;! 



* A verse attributed to Maluk Das is so generally current, as to have become proverbial, 



it is unnecessary to point out its resemblance to Christian texts "^^^T ^T ^ "^T^'^Ct ^^ ^T 



^ ^^J^^ \ ^r^ ^^^T ^ ^f ^W ^T -^Jm Tm ll The snake performs no service, the bird 

 discharges no duty. Mal6k Das declares, Ram is the giver of all, 



f There is some variety in the accounts here, Mat'hura Nath says, the Tomb is at Kara • 

 Puran Das asserts, that it is at Jagannaih^ and the birth-place at ^«ra— he has been at 

 both : the establishment at Jagannuih is of great repute ; it is near to a Matli of Kabir Pant'his 

 and all ascetics who go to this place of pilgrimage, consider it essential to receive the Maluk Das 

 ha Tukra, from the one, and Kabir ka Tarani, from the other, or a piece of bread and spoonful 

 of sour rice water. This and most of the other particulars, were procured for me from the present 

 Mahant, by a young officer, Lieut. Wilton, stationed for a short time at Kara, 



