RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 225 



The occurrence of these impurities is certainly countenanced by the 

 texts, which the sects regard as authorities, and by a very general belief 

 of their occurrence. The members of the sect are enjoined secrecy, which, 

 indeed, it might be supposed they would observe on their own account, 

 and, consequently, will not acknowledge their participation in such scenes. 

 They will not, indeed, confess that they are of the Sdkta sect, although 

 their reserve in this respect is said, latterly, to be much relaxed. It is 

 contrary, however, to all knowledge of the human character, to admit the 

 possibility of these transactions in their fullest extent ; and, although 

 the worship of the Sakti, according to the above outline, may be some- 

 times performed, yet there can be little doubt of its being practised but 

 seldom, and then in solitude and secrecy. In truth, few of the ceremonies, 

 there is reasbn to believe, are ever observed ; and, although the Chakra 



" A dancing girl, a female devotee, a harlot, a washerwoman, or barber's wife, a female of the 

 Brahmanical or Sudra tribe, a flower girl, or a milk maid." It is to be performed at midnight, with 

 a party of eight, nine, or eleven couple, as the Bhairavas and Bhairavis. 



Appropriate Mantras are to be used, according to the description of the person selected for the 

 Sakti, who is then to be worshipped, according to prescribed form : she is placed disrobed, but richly 

 ornamented — on the left of a circle ( Chakra) described for the purpose, with various Mantras and 

 gesticulations, and is to be rendered pure by the repetition of different formulas. 



^M€tri^'^T*4r*?TWfariT I 



Being finally sprinkled over with wine, the act being sanctified by the peculiar Mantra. 



L 1 



