MYSORE, CAMARA, AND MALABAR. 239 
successor. These pupils are taken into the Matams at five or six CHAPTER 
years of age, and, until they attain their thirteenth year, are called IV * 
Mari ; after which they are not by name distinguished from the June 22, &c. 
common Jangamas ; but if they choose to marry, they must relin- 
quish all hopes of becoming a Guru. The pupil is made a Guru 
(sage), or an incarnation of God, by receiving from his master a 
particular Upadesa ; and in case of a Guru's dying without having 
disclosed this awful secret, the other Gurus assemble, appoint the 
most promising pupil to succeed, and at the same time deliver to him 
the Upadhci of his rank. The Guru , when he pleases, may marry; 
but he is thereby degraded from being a portion of the divinity, 
and from his power ; and no one has yet been found so desirous of 
marriage, as to relinquish these pre-eminencies. 
There are many inferior Matams which are occupied by San- 
nyasis , called Mahcintina. These originally received an Upadesa 
from some of the four chief Gurus, and were sent to distant parts 
to manage the concerns of their superiors ; but, though they all ac- 
knowledge the superiority of the four Gurus, yet they educate 
pupils in the same manner; and from among these appoint their 
successor, by teaching him their Upadesa. These pupils, till they 
arrive at the age of puberty, are called Putta Devaru. The Mahan - 
tina having sent deputies to different places, even these have now 
assumed a separate jurisdiction, and educateRheir own' successors. 
The Mahcintina attend at marriages and funerals, and punish all 
persons of the cast, for every kind of offence against religion, by 
ordering every good man to avoid communication with the delin- 
quent. This excommunication is not removed, till,, by the interces- 
sion of friends, and the most humiliating requests of the offender, 
he obtains pardon by paying a fine under the name of charity. On 
fhis occasion, the Mahdntina bestow some consecrated water and 
victuals, which wipe away the offence. The Gurus occasionally 
visit the different Mahcintina throughout the country ; but it is the 
