206 SKETCH OF THE 



fixed abode: they subsist upon alms ; many of them go naked, but some 

 wear a wrapper stained with ochre ; they usually assume the Saiva marks, 

 and twist their hair so as to project from the forehead, in imitation of the 

 laid of Siva. 



The Akdsmukhis* holdup their faces to the sky, till the muscles of the 

 back of the neck become contracted, and retain it in that position : they 

 wear the Jaici, and allow the beard and whiskers to grow, smearing the 

 body with ashes : some wear coloured garments : they subsist upon alms. 



The Nakhis are of a similar description with the two preceding, but 

 their personal characteristic is of a less extravagant nature, being con- 

 fined to the length of their finger nails, which they never cut : they also 

 live by begging, and wear the Saiva marks. 



GUDARAS. 



The Gudaras are so named from a pan of metal which they carry 

 about with them, and in which they have a small fire, for the purpose of 

 burning scented woods at the houses of the persons from whom they re- 

 ceive alms. These alms they do not solicit further than by repeating 

 the word Alakh, ]~ expressive of the indescribable nature of the deity. 

 They have a peculiar garb, wearing a large round cap, and a long frock or 

 coat, stained with ochery clay. Some also wear ear-rings, like the Kan- 

 phata Jogis, or a cylinder of wood passed through the lobe of the ear, 

 which they term the Khechari 3fudrd, the seal or symbol of the deity, of 

 him who moves in the heavens. 



* Akds, the sky, and Mukha, the face, 

 -j- A, the negative prefix, and Lakshma, a mark, a distinction. 



