RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 219 



the impure practices which are attributed to a different division of the 

 adorers of Sakti, and which are particularly prescribed to the followers 

 of this system. In this form it is termed the Dakshina, or right hand 

 form of worship.* The only observance that can be supposed to form 

 an exception to the general character of this mode is the Bali, an offer- 

 ing of blood, in which rite a number of helpless animals, usually kids, are 

 annually decapitated. In some cases, life is offered without shedding 

 blood, when the more barbarous practice is adopted of pummelling with 

 the fists the poor animal to death: at other times blood only is offered 

 without injury to life. These practices, however, are not considered as 

 orthodox, and approach rather to the ritual of the Vamdcharis,^ the 

 more pure Bali, consisting of edible grain, with milk and sugar. Animal 



■s^r m^t 3Gr ^ ^ht^j ^*sr*rc ii 



The Varna ritual, although declared by me, was intended for Sudras only. A Brahman, from 

 receiving spirituous liquor, forfeits his Brahmanical character — let it not be done — let it not ever 

 be done. Goddess, it is brutality, never let it be practised. 





The Bali is of two kinds, Rdja sa and Sdtwika ; the first consists of meat, and includes the 

 three kinds of- flesh ; the second of pulse and rice-milk, with the three sweet articles, (ghee, honey, 

 and sugar,) let the Brahman, always pure, offer only the Sdtwika Bali. 



The Brahmavaivarlta also observes — " The animal sacrifices, it is true, gratify Dukca ; but 

 they, at the same time, subject the sacrificer to the sin which attaches to the destroyer of animal 

 life. It is declared by the Vedas, that he who slays an animal, is hereafter slain by the sluin. 

 " Brahma Vaivartta Purdna" 



