OF THE HINDUS. 123 



The secular followers of this sect are, as usual, of every tribe, aiid of the 

 Grihast'ha, or householder order : the teachers, both male and female, are 

 Udasina, or mendicants and ascetics, and lead a life of celibacy : the sectarial 

 marks are a shorter Tilaka than that used by the other ChaitanyaSy and a 

 single string of Tulasi beads worn close round the neck : the men often wear 

 only the Kaupina, and a piece of cloth round the waist, like an apron, whilst 

 the women shave their heads, with the exception of a single slender tress : 

 those amongst them who are most rigid in their conduct, accept no invita- 

 tions nor food from any but persons of their own sect. 



The association of men and women is, according to their own assertions, 

 restricted to a residence within the same inclosure, and leads to no other 

 than such intercourse as becomes brethren and sisters, or than the, community 

 of belief and interest, and joint celebration of the praise of Krishna and 

 Chaitanya, with song and dance : the women act as the spiritual instructors 

 of the females of respectable families, to whom they have unrestricted access, 

 and by whom they are visited io their own dwellings : the institution is so 

 far political, and the consequence is said to be actually, that to which it ob- 

 viously tends, the growing diffusion of the doctrines of this sect in Calcutta, 

 where it is especially established. 



The Karta Bhqjas, or worshippers of the Creator, are a sect of very mo- 

 dern origin, having been founded no longer than thirty years ago by Rama 

 Saran PXla, a Gwdla, an inhabitant of Ghospara, a village near ^SwM Sagar, in 

 Bengal.* The chief peculiarity of this sect, is the doctrine of the absolute 



* See Mr. Ward's account of this sect, Vol. 2. 175. ; in a note he has given a translation 

 of the Mantra, " Oh ! sinless Lord — Oh ! great Lord, at thy pleasure I go and return, not a moment 

 am I without thee, I am even with thee, save, Oh ! great Lord: " the following is the original : — 



C^^^i:^ ^tt^ Cf[lTlt" ^^t «^^ II Tliis is called the Solah ana iMantra, the JVeopki/ie 



