12 MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS RITES. 
their gods. It is principally confided to the Brahmins (pl. 3, jig. 9), who 
constitute a caste by themselves, and order, arrange, and conduct every 
part of it. They alone can become priests; no member of another caste is 
permitted to read or expound the revelations contained in the Vedas, to 
prepare the sacrifice, or instruct in religious matters, and, in case of being 
overtaken by poverty, to demand alms. They are the sole judges in all 
religious cases, and their decision is considered infallible. They were wont 
to adorn the temples of the gods with many architectural ornaments. A 
specimen of these will be found in p/. 4, jig. 1, which is a correct repre- 
sentation of a pillar, with allegorical figures, found in an old Hindoo temple 
at Barolli. 
Next in importance are the Ascetics. They are generally divided into 
tribes or fraternities more or less differing from one another in their 
habits, dress, &c. The most respected and venerated of this class are those 
distinguished by the name of Sanashis, or Saniassi (pl. 3, fig. 10), who are 
also considered by the people as saints. The majority are Brahmins, and 
are vowed to poverty, chastity, and abstinence. They lead a wandering 
life; going from place to place with a staff in one hand, and a cup out of 
which they drink, in the other, while their dress consists only\of a strip of 
yellow linen wrapt around the body. They abstain carefully from all 
employment, and obtain the scanty supply of food which they allow them- 
selves by asking it as an alms of their countrymen. Another fraternity of 
this class, the Vishnavins (fig. 11), collect their alms by going from house 
to house with a guitar-like instrument in their hands, upon which they 
play, and prefer their request in a song; when this is finished, they bow 
their heads, upon which they carry a small copper vessel to receive the gift 
which any one may choose to bestow. 
The Penitents belong also to this order, but are distinguished from other 
ascetics by their fanaticism. Their gloomy doctrine teaches them to merit 
reward by a rigid abstinence from all the enjoyments of life, by severe 
mortification of the body, and a refined selftorment, which cause them to 
be held in great respect by the people, who look upon them as saints. One 
of this order is represented in pl. 3, fig. 12, with a bundle of peacocks’ 
feathers in his arms, his cheeks and tongue pierced with a sharp iron, which 
is firmly held in its place by another piece fastened under his chin. A 
whole group of these penitents is given in pl. 2, jig. 20, where one is seen 
standing in a painful position on one toe, his right foot and his arms 
elevated, in which position he has vowed to continue for a specified time. 
Another is seen stretched out on the ground, in consequence of a vow to 
measure the distance between two temples by the length of his body, which 
he does by throwing himself on the ground, and then rising repeats it 
until he has traversed the space the length of which he is bound to ascer- 
tain. The figure on the left of the tree represents one who has voluntarily 
undertaken to carry a heavy yoke upon his shoulders, and an iron lock in 
his hands ; and the one in the left corner does penance by carrying heavy 
weights in his hands and around his neck; while he who is seen in the 
back-ground, between these two, has resolved to remain for a definite 
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