244 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER 
IV. 
June 22, kc. 
Customs of 
the Detail- 
gas. 
J^arnata De - 
v as. 
V’ •• 
«■» 
The present Guru , named Hama Acharlu, lives here. Those who 
are natives of this country bury their dead, and the Goni makers of 
the lower Carnatic burn theirs ; but this does not prevent the two 
from intermarrying. They are allowed a plurality of wives. With- 
out danger of losing cast they can eat hogs, fowls, mutton, and fish, 
and can drink spirituous liquors. 
The Dbvangas are a set of weavers, consisting of two nations, 
Karndta , and Telinga. 
The Karnata or Canara Dhdngas in this country all wear the 
Linga, but are a distinct cast from the Pancham Banijigas , with 
whom they neither eat nor intermarry. The same is the case be- 
tween them and the Teliga Dev an gas. Their Guru is Cart Bastva-uppa , 
who, from the place of his residence, is commonly called the Nicla- 
mavudy Szvamalu. The Devdngas pretend that he is totally .indepen- 
dent of the Gurus of the Linga Banijagaru ; but I have reason to 
think that this is a vain piece of pride, and that he is one of the 
Mahantina before mentioned. The Guru sends Jangamas to all the 
villages where Devdngas reside, and receives contributions under 
the name of charity. Owing to a dispute about the burning of the 
body of the Rdj/s mother, this priest incurred the heavy displea- 
sure of Tippoo, and was under the necessity of flying to the do- 
minions of the Nabob of Arcot, and still remains there at Trinomaly. 
The learning is chiefly confined to the Swdmalu and his pupils. Most 
of the Jangamas are acknowledged, even by their followers, to be 
very ignorant. The sect have a book called Devanga Parana , which 
every one may read. It was written by Devanga Muni, the common 
ancestor of the race. The Jangamas read the Baswana Parana, and 
possess many books that the D&vangas are not permitted to see. 
Out of these they repeat portions to the laity at the annual cere- 
mony performed in memory of their deceased parents, at births, 
and at funerals. These portions are committed to memory by the 
Jangamas , it not being lawful for the laity even to look at the books; 
but as these are written in the vulgar language, and of course are 
