1840.] On the Creed, Customs and Literature of the Jangams. 147 



The forms of contracting marriage are the same as those which are 

 used among other Hindus. Certain prayers (mantram) are read, and 

 the tali,, or bit of gold, is attached to the bride's neck as usual. 



But it is not imperative to betroth the parties in childhood, as ia the 

 rule in other castes. The Aradhyas adhere to the braminical rule, but 

 the other castes of lingadharis often let the wedding or betrothment 

 take place after the bride is grown up. Like other Hindus they per- 

 mit polygamy, if the first wife be childless. But the second nuptials 

 cannot take place without her consent. 



Marriage is imperative among Bramins, It is merely voluntary among 

 the Jangams. 



A widow is treated with every sort of kindness and respect. Her 

 head is not shaven, and she is permitted to marry again. 



The Bramins exclude a widow from society. There is no such pro- 

 hibition among the Jangams: who however, agreeing with others of 

 their fellow countrymen do not permit her to wear the jacket, perfumes^ 

 paints, black glass bracelets, the nose-ring and the silver toe-rings . 

 for these form the specific garb of a wedded woman. But in various 

 tribes of Lingadharis some of these rules are laid aside. 



A woman of piety is just as fit as a man to confer instruction in the 

 creed. The Jangams always receive and retarn the bow or salutation 

 of every woman, just as happens between man and man. For, they 

 observe, were we to offer her any insult it would be an insult to the 

 image of the god which she wears. Nothing but a breach of chastity 

 can lose her the title she possesses to gentle and honourable treatment. 



On Sects in this creed i and rules in regard to Eating. 



Though the Vira Saivas declare themselves entirely free from the 

 bonds of caste, we shall perceive that their liberation is but partial. 



They cannot eat with any one who refuses to bless the food in the 

 name of Basava : for they look upon others as heathens. 



And they refuse to eat with an Aradhya, because being a Bramin he 

 is an idolater in their eyes by reason of his prayer (gayatri) addressed 

 to the sun. For the solar worship is an essential part of the bramini- 

 cal creed. 



And the Aradhya, as he refuses to lay aside his caste cannot of course 

 eat with men who eat with parias. Thus each sect is equally unwilling 

 to admit the other to equality. 



In other sects of Hindus, the Bramin takes precedency, and is allow- 



