192 SKETCH OF THE 



Maths* Siva is the object of their worship — they officiate indeed, as the 

 priests of that deity, in some places, especially at the celebrated JLdt, or 

 Staff, of Bhairava, at Benares. They mark the forehead with a trans- 

 verse line of ashes, and smear the body with the same ; they dress in 

 various styles, but in travelling usually wear a cap of patch- work and 

 garments dyed with red ochre. Some wear simply a Dhoti, or cloth 

 round the loins. 



The term Jogi, in popular acceptation, is of almost as general appli- 

 cation as Sanydsi and Vairagi ; and it is difficult to fix its import upon 

 any individual class, besides the Kdnphata : the vagrants so called, fol- 

 lowing usually the dictates of their own caprice as to worship and be- 

 lief, and often, it may be conceived, employing the character as a mere 

 plea for a lazy livelihood. The Jogis are, indeed, particularly distinguish- 

 ed amongst the different mendicant characters, by adding to their reli- 

 gious personification more of the mountebank than any others : most of 

 the religious mendicants, it is true, deal in fortune-telling, interpretation of 

 dreams, and palmistry ; they are also often empirics, and profess to cure 

 diseases with specific drugs, or with charms and spells : but besides 

 these accomplishments, the Jogi is frequently musical, and plays and 

 sings ; he also initiates animals into his business, and often travels 

 about with a small bullock, a goat, or a monkey, whom he has taught 

 to obey his commands, and to exhibit amusing gesticulations. The 

 dress of this class of Jogis is generally a cap and coat, or frock of many 

 colours : they profess to worship Siva, and often carry the Linga, like 



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* Solitary and independant living, however, appears to be improper, if the authority of the 

 Hatha Pradipa is to be depended upon. 



