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CHAPTER 
Casts. 
Different 
kinds of 
Srdhmans. 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
the image in the temple, which represents Rangandth , one of the 
forms of Vishnu , in a sleeping posture. 
A procession, thlat took place to-day at Paligonda , gave me an 
opportunity of learning, that only the three pure casts of Brah- 
mans , Vaishyas , and Sudra , are allowed to attend on such occa- 
sions. The fourth pure cast (the second in rank), the Kshatriyas , 
are considered by all the Brahmans here, as having been for many 
centuries quite extinct. The Parriar, and other impure tribes, 
composing what are here called the Panchum Bimdum, would be 
beaten, were they to attempt joining in a procession of any of the 
gods of the Brahmans , or entering any of their temples. The Brah- 
mans indeed despise those poor people so much, that they will give 
them no religious advice; nor perform for them any religious cere- 
mony; and, what is still more extraordinary, will not even receive 
money from them as charity. The Parriar s have among themselves 
a kind of priests, named Velluan, who possess books in the Tamul 
language. They have also small temples, in which the onl^y image 
is said to represent the head of the mother of Parasu Rama Avatar . 
This, according to the legend, was taken up by the Parriars , when 
it had been cut off by her son. 
I have already mentioned the three grand sects prevailing among 
the Brahmans of this country, and which are said to prevail also over 
all the five nations of Brahmans , called collectively Pansh Dravada , 
who occupy the southern parts of India. Theie are, however, many 
other divisions among these Brahmans , arising from their various 
occupations. 
The proper duty of a Brahman is meditation on things divine, 
and the proper manner of his procuring a subsistence is by begging 
(Bhikshd) . This mode of living is considered as very agreeable 
to the gods ; and all industry is deemed derogatory to the rank 
of a man, and more especially to that of a Brahman . The lower 
classes of society, however, in this degenerate age, not being suf- 
ficiently charitable, nor quite so willing to part with their money, 
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