1837.J 



from Punah to Kit tor. 



387 



The only object of their worship is the ling, "simulacrum membri 

 virilis," which they generally keep suspended from their necks. 



They perform this worship in the Mahadeva temples ; but in those 

 only where there is a separate and distinct apotheosis of the ling. The 

 ceremonies of their religion are conducted by the viragis, acting under 

 the superintendence of the Brahmans, at the Mahadeva temples ; and 

 they are not, as the name implies, simply religious mendicants, who, 

 from choice, have abandoned the concerns of the world; but are the 

 pretended offspring of the god. According to my information, every 

 woman who, being barren, pays her addresses to the temple, and is 

 blessed with offspring, devotes one of th e children to the service of 

 the deity; and, in the event of that child being a male, he becomes an 

 officiating priest among the Lingaiyats. 



It is almost unnecessary to remark the degrading superstition of 

 such a religion ; for however pure may have been the original meta- 

 physical idea of the institution of the lingam, the effect now speaks 

 for itself. 



At Yerur, on the Krishna, the Lingaiyats have a celebrated temple, 

 liberally endowed with freehold lands for the support of the Brahmans 

 and dancing-women. It is dedicated to Mahadeva, and is celebrated 

 for two deifications of the ling ; one in its generative capacity, named 

 Virabhadra, signifying the prosperous hero; the other in a destruc- 

 tive capacity, named Virapatera. 



The Jamas are also met with in considerable numbers south of the 

 Krishna. Their establishments are monastic, as the Jainas live in a 

 manner separated from the other inhabitants of a village. Their 

 houses, congregated together, and opening into a square court, are 

 surrounded by a wall, within which stands a temple for the commu- 

 nity, where Parisnath is the chief object of worship. 



The Jainas are mostly engaged in trade, and appear in their man- 

 ners to be less influenced by superstitious observances than other 

 Hindus. 



Condition of the People.— Muhammedan history has informed us, 

 and the experience of our time serves to confirm it, that the Dekkan 

 has been at all times more subject to famine than most other parts on 

 the western coast of India. This happens, as would appear, when the 

 lighter and upper strata of the clouds are carried over that elevated 

 table-land by a strong south-west monsoon wind. The heavier and 

 inferior strata, when attracted by the lower country and hills of the 

 Konkan, descend in rain ; so that, none being left for the parched 

 lands of the Dekkan, famine is an inevitable consequence j and the 



