RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 207 



RUKHARAS, SUKHARAS, AND UKHARAS. 



The Stikharas are Saiva mendicants, distinguished by carrying a 

 stick three spans in length : they dress in a cap and sort of petticoat 

 stained with ochery earth, smear their bodies with ashes, and wear ear- 

 rings of the Rudrdksha seed. They also wear over the left shoulder a 

 narrow piece of cloth dyed with ochre, and twisted, in place of the Zenar. 



The Rukharas are of similar habits and appearance, but they do not 

 carry the stick, nor wear the Rudr&ksha ear-rings, but in their place 

 metallic ones : these two classes agree with the preceding in the watch- 

 word, exclaiming Alakh, as they pass along; the term is, however, used 

 by other classes of mendicants. 



The Uk haras are said to be members of either of the preceding 

 classes, who drink spirituous liquors, and eat meat : they appear to be 

 the refuse of the three preceding mendicant classes, who, in general, are 

 said to be of mild and inoffensive manners. 



KARA LINGIS. 



These are vagabonds of little credit, except sometimes amongst the 

 most ignorant portions of the community : they are not often met with : 

 they go naked, and to mark their triumph over sensual desires, affix an 

 iron ring and chain on the male organ :* they are professedly worshippers 

 of Siva. 



* These ascetics were the persons who attracted the notice of the earlier travellers, espe- 

 cially Behnier and Tavernier. They were more numerous then, probably, than they are at present, 

 and this appears to be the case with most of the mendicants who practised on the superstitious 

 admiration of the vulgar. 



