170 On the Creeds Customs and Literature of the Jangams. f^jAtu, 



Greek Church attributes to the letter written by the bishop, and placed 

 in the coffin. 



Tiiey are free from the Hindu rules regarding the anniversary of a 

 death. Some few, however, imitate Bramins in solemnizing that day. 



Not having myself seen any of their tombs, I avail myself of the 

 following note given me by Lieutenant Newbold: "The tombs of 

 Lingavants of rank are generally massive quadrangular structures, 

 raised on terraces built of stone, and simply but handsomely carved. 

 The interior consists generally of a square chamber beneath which 

 is a vault containing the real tomb: which is also usually square^ 

 Over the head of the corpse is sometimes placed a phallus ; often 

 ornamented daily with sweet flowers. These tombs are sometimes 

 constructed by Jangams for themselves ; and an old priest living in a 

 mutth among the rocks and ruins of Bijanugger, led me down into a 

 subterraneous vault, dimly illumed by a solitary lamp: and this he 

 showed me as the destined receptacle of his more mortal part. The 

 bottom of it was strewed with ashes." 



Ideas regardiuif a future state, 



A modern writer describing the opinion of the Jews at the present 

 day, on the subject of a future state, says *' they believe that they suf- 

 fer for themselves : Moses is their prophet but they look to their own 

 good conduct as furnishing grounds for hoping a reward. If good, say 

 they, " my God will reward me, and if bad he will punish me." 



Such is the belief among the Jangams : who entirely differ from other 

 Hindus with regard to a future state. They make a singular distinc- 

 tion reg-arding themselves. Other men, say they, are liable to transmi- 

 gration, but we are not. All who are introduced into the faith are eX" 

 empt from transnaigration. They depart either to heaven or hell, and 

 that state is eternal. 



The Hindus in general are credulous enough as to ghosts, sprites, 

 and local demons. But they do not believe in the existence of the 

 Devil or Satan as a separate being. In this the Vira Saivas resemble 

 their countrymen. What we call the work or instigation of the devil, 

 the Hindus call, the fruits of a former birth. In the Christian poem 

 ** Vedanta Rasayan" the Devil is called pisachi ; the same phrase 

 (fiend) is used in our English poet Chaucer. 



The description of the creation of the world, forming a prominent 

 part of the braminical system they have in opposition devised another 

 mode, described in the Lila. Regarding the end of the world, they 

 have no dcfiniie ideas. 



