324 
CHAPTER 
V. 
July 13. 
Tricoveluru 
hatanana. 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
The Tricoveluru Satanana, in order to procure worldly enjoyment,, 
act as schoolmasters to instruct the youth in the reading and 
writing, both of Sanskrit and of the vulgar languages ; and also in 
music, both vocal and instrumental. Some also, who are rich, be- 
come farmers. The proper manner, however, in which they ought 
to subsist, is by begging; and by this rejection of worldly enjoy- 
ment, like the Brahmans, they expect in a future state to obtain a 
high reward. They intermarry, and eat among one another, with- 
out any distinction of family, learning, or profession ; and have no 
objection to a man of any nation, provided he can show that he is 
a Satanana . The Brahmans allege, that on such occasions they are 
not very scrupulous in their inquiries. They have hereditary chiefs, 
who with the assistance of a council settle disputes, and puiiilh de- 
linquents. They are not allowed to take animal food, nor spirituous 
liquors. Here they bury, below the Ghats they burn, the dead. 
They are allowed two wives, who can only be divorced for adultery. 
Their native language is the Telinga ; yet the book peculiar to the 
cast is in the poetical language of the Tamul nation. This they call 
the Vi ‘.dam; but the Brahmans call it Triveda Prabandam. They 
allege, that they read the eighteen Purdnas ; but this the Brah- 
mans deny. They worship Vishnu by set forms of prayer; but ad- 
dress Siva only mentally, or by extemporary petitions, when they 
consider themselves in danger from his destructive power. They 
never worship in any manner Pharma Raja, Marima, Putalima, or any 
other of the Sahtis. None of them take the vow of Ddseri ; but some 
assume a life of celibacy, and live entirely by begging. In this 
case, they never cut their hair, and are called Ekdingi. They cannot 
assume this order, without some ceremonies having been performed 
by their Gurus , who are both the Samiydsis and the hereditary 
chiefs of the Sri Vaishnavam Brahmans . These confer Upadesa and 
Chakrdntikam without reward, and at the same time give the Sat A- 
nana a dinner; which, as being a kind of charity, is rather an ac- 
knowledgment of the Brdhmaiis inferiority; theperson who receives 
