OF THE HINDUS. J33 



the erratic beggars of the Hindus, be they of what religious order they may t 

 they signify, in fact, nothing more than a man, who has abandoned the world, 

 or has overcome his passions, and are therefore equally suitable to any of 

 the reliffious vaarrants we meet with in Hindustan : the term FaMr is of 

 equally general application and import, although it is of Mohammedan 

 origin, and in strictness, more descriptive of the holy beggars of that faith, 



-Although, however, Sanydsis and Vairdgis, and other similar denomina- 

 tions are used, and correctly used in a v/ide acceptation, yet we occasionally 

 do find them limited in meaning, and designating distinct and inimical bo- 

 dies of men. When this is the case, it may be generally concluded, that the 

 Sanydsis imply the mendicant followers of Siva, and the Vairdgis those of 

 Vishnu. 



The distinction thus made requires, at its outset, a peculiar exception, for 

 besides the indiscriminate application of the term Sanydsi to the VaislmavaSy 

 as well as other mendicants ; there is a particular class of them to whom it 

 really appertains, these are the TridaMis, or TridaMl Sanydsis. 



The word Damla originally imports a staff, and it figuratively signifies 

 moral restraint ; exercised in three ways especially, or in the control of speech, 

 body, and mind ; or word, deed, and thought: a joint reference to the literal and 

 figurative sense of the term has given rise to a religious distinction termed 

 Danda Gt^ahanam, the taking up of the staff, or adopting the exercise of the 

 moral restraints above-mentioned, and carrying, as emblematic of such a 

 purpose, either one, or, as in the present instance, three small wands or staves. 

 TridaiiWi designates both these characteristics of the order. 



O' 



The TridaMi Sanydsis are such members of the Rdmamfja, or Sri Vaish- 

 nava sect, as have past through the two first states of the Brahmanical order, 



K k 



