1840.] On tlie Creed^ Customs and Literature of the Jangams. MS 



cutting thvough the gneiss, and the'rnicaceous hornblende slate in an 

 easterly direction. That of the gneiss and schist was here nearly N. 

 W, The basaltic greenstone divides into its usual rhomboids, which 

 again separate on percussion, exhibiting a hard globular nucleus. Fur- 

 naces for expelling the carbonic acid of the kanker, and reducing it to 

 lime, are seen on the beds of the rivulets. 



A little south of Honoor are the dunes described in the 23d No. of 

 this Journal. 



Essay on the Creed, Customs and Literature of the Jangams,^ 

 By C. P. Brown, Esq, 



The various Braminical creeds prevailing among the Hindus, as well 

 as those of the Jainas and Buddhists, have been amply illustrated by 

 CoLEBROOKEj WiLsoN and other learned writers. It remains to enquire 

 regarding the anti-braminical worshippers of Siva, who are called 

 Jangams, Yira-saivas, or Lingadharis, who are easily recognized by 

 their wearing a small idol, either hung on the breast or bound on the arm. 

 These are the disciples of Basava whom they regard as a form of the 

 god Siva. They are widely spread throughout the South of India, among 

 the Canarese, the Telugus and the Tamils. 



Dr. Francis Buchanan, the Abbe Dubois, and Colonel Wilks have 

 given short notices regarding the Jangams, which are summed up in 

 Professor Wilson's Essay on Sects, in the seventeenth volume of the 

 Asiatic Researches. But the information collected regarding the 

 Saivites being far from sufficient, the learned professor did me the 

 honour (when I was his guest at Oxfoid, in 1836) to desire me to ob- 

 tain further information on points which remained very uncertain for 

 want of sufficient enquiries made in the peninsula of India. On return- 

 ing to Madras, I accordingly resumed an enquiry regarding the Jan- 

 gamas, the only saivite sect who deviate from braminical usages. 



Among Bramins the Smartas (followers of Sancar Achari) are 

 generally called saivites, but are in fact free-thinkers, equally willing 

 to adore Siva and Vishnu. Their creed may be found in the Mahab- 

 harat, the Bhagavat and the Ramayan, all of which are entirely rejected 

 by the disciples of Basava. There are indeed, some few Siva Bramins 

 who officiate as priests in the Siva temples, but I have not heard of any 

 peculiarities prevalent among them. They certainly are different from 



