RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 221 



adoration of Vindhya Vasini, near Mirzapur* has existed for more than 

 seven centuries, and that of Jivdlamukhi, at Nagarkot, very early attracted 

 Mohammedan persecution, t These places still retain their reputation, 

 and are the objects of pilgrimage to devout Hindus. On the eighth of 

 the dark fortnight of Chaitra and Kdrtik in particular, a numerous assem- 

 blage of pilgrims takes place at them. 



The adoration of KalI, or Durg a, is, however, particularly prevalent 

 in Bengal, and is cultivated with practices scarcely known in most other 

 provinces. Her great festival, the Dasahara, is, in the West of India, 

 marked by no particular honors, whilst its celebration in Bengal occu- 

 pies ten days of prodigal expenditure. This festival, the Durgd Pujd, 

 is now well known to Europeans, as is the extensive and popular estab- 

 lishment near Calcutta, the temple of KA.lt, at Kali Ghdt. The rites 

 observed in that place, and at the Durgd Pujd, however, almost place the 

 Bengali Saktas amongst the Vdmdcharis, notwithstanding the rank 

 assigned them in the Dakshindchdri Tantrardja, which classes the Gauras 

 with the Keralas and Kashmirians, as the three principal divisions of the 

 purer worshippers of SXkti. 



VAMIS, OR VAMACHARIS. 



The Vdmis mean the left hand worshippers, or those who adopt a 

 ritual contrary to that which is usual, and to what indeed they dare 



* It is frequently mentioned in the Vrihat Kathd, the age of which work is ascertained to be 

 about seven centuries. Nagarkot was taken by Firoz the 3d, in 1360, (Dow 2. 55,) at which time 

 the goddess Jwuldmukhi was then worshipped there. 



f For a full account of both, the work of Mr. Ward may be advantageously consulted — II. 89 

 to 96, and 125 to 131. 



K 1 



