MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. £75 
and allege, that they are possessed of Mantrams , or forms of prayer, CHAPTER 
which they can read,’ and which are endowed with considerable 
power. This is altogether denied by the Brahmans , who laugh at July 5. 
the prayers of the potters, as being low trash in the vulgar language. 
The potters certainly understand the Andray , or poetical language 
of their nation, and are possessed of a translation of the Bhdgavata 
Parana in that language. 
A few of these potters worship Siva, and are followers of the 
Smartal Brahmans; but by far the greater part are of Vishnu's side, 
and follow the hereditary chiefs of the A'ayngar. On their followers 
of this tribe these Gurus bestow Upadesa, Chakrantikam , and holy 
water. The renter settles all disputes, and punishes delinquents ; 
the power of the Guru being confined to the bestowing of spiritual 
gifts, and the receiving of contributions, both as dues on marriages, 
and as annual tribute, besides what he gets as charity at casual 
visits. The Panchanga, or astrologer, acts as their Purohita , or fa- 
mily priest, and reads Mantrams, or • set forms of prayer, in the 
Sanskrit language, at births, marriages, funerals, new moons, and at 
the annual commemoration of their father’s death, which is only 
called Tithi when the parties are Brahmans . Some of the potters 
understand the Sanskrit , so far at least as to be able to repeat the 
prayer after the astrologer, which is supposed to add considerably 
to its efficacy. At these ceremonies there attend for charity all the 
Brahmans of the neighbourhood, who are Vaidikas, and who think 
that they can get any thing worth their while. These worshippers 
of Vishnu among the potters never take the vow of Daseri ; but 
when they are sick they sometimes make a vow to live by begging, 
for a certain number of days after they recover. This is looked 
upon as very agreeable to the gods, and a sure way of obtaining 
their favour. They offer bloody sacrifices to'the Saktis, or destruc- 
tive spirits; but never act as priests in their temples. They never 
pray to Dharma Raja, 
