1840.] On the Creed^ Customs and Literature of the Jangams. 158 



four alone, of all the saints, are designated as Aradhyas? I confess 

 that neither the Jangams nor the Aradhyas approve the solution I have 

 here offered, and a decision more satisfactory may perhaps be elicited 

 by further enquiry. 



Regarding the Vedas. 



It has been stated that the Aradhyas found their pretensions on the 

 Vedas, which as they assert prove their authority as Bramins. To 

 perceive the true value of these claims it may be as well to state the 

 present practice regarding the Vedas ; and the following statements 

 are the result of many enquiries, as to the rules prevailing in the 

 Telugu and Tamil countries. 



Only a small portion of ihe Vedas is generally read among Bramins : 

 it is read without the meaning being explained, and is in obsolete 

 Sanscrit. The great rite or sacrifice called yajna is occasionaUy 

 celebrated amsmg the Smarta Bramins : but this is so rare that my 

 informant never heard of but two instances. The few B'-a»iins who live 

 by the Vedas commit twenty or thirty chapters to mem or'/, which are 

 recited at certain ceremonies in weddings, funerals, and yajuas. They 

 never pretend to know the meaning. Ordinary Bramins though taught 

 a few pages of the Vedas at school are not expected to retain this 

 knowledge. From the best, information it would seem that not ten 

 Bramins might be found throughout the peninsula who are really skill- 

 ed in the Vedas. Those recluses wdio study divinity read various com- 

 mentaries called Bhdshyam. The Smartas read the Sancara Bhashyam. 

 The Vaishnavas read the Ramanuja Bhashyam : and the Madhavas 

 read the Madhva Bhashyam: each man reading the commentator 

 approved by his sect. Such readers are very few indeed. No man 

 concerned with secular affairs troubles himself with either the Vedas 

 or the comments. So great is the veneration shewn to Sancar Achari 

 that the other commentators even when they oppose his explmations 

 do not venture to name him. Thus we see that the Brnmins them- 

 selves know just as little about the Vedas as the Musulmans do about 

 the koran. 



Among the Jangams and Aradhyas certain portions of the Vedas 

 with the explanation are much dwelt on. But these are selected for 

 sectarian purposes : to demonstrate that Bramins are in error, and, on 

 their own tenets ought to embrace the creed of Basava. By insisting 

 on allegorical interpretations they pervert the meaning, and cannot 

 very seriously believe what they allege. In fact this device resembles 



