MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAlt. 325 
the charity being, in this country, considered as of a higher rank CHAPTER 
than the donor. By charity here must always be understood some- 
thing given to a person asking for it in the name of God, as having Ju h i3 * 
dedicated himself to a religious life. Alms given to the necessi- 
tous poor, and infirm, are received with great thankfulness, such 
persons being very numerous above the Ghats. 
In the Tamul language, the Satdnana are called Satany. Those 
who serve in temples, and who are thence called Coil, on account 
of their assumed superiority, take the name of Pratama. They say, 
that their proper office is that of Pujdri in the temples of Vishnu , # 
and of the gods of his family. The Pujd consists in chaunting some 
prayers, and pouring some water over the head of the image, and 
thus making what they call holy water; which is distributed among 
the people to drink, and to pour on their heads when they pray. 
As the image is always well rubbed with oil, the water impregnated 
with this forms no pleasant beverage ; but that renders the drinking 
of it more meritorious. The prayers used by the Pratama Satany , 
on such occasions, are in the Tamul language; and although the 
holy water consecrated by them is good enough for the Sudra , it is 
of no use to a Brahman , who in his ceremonies can employ such 
only as has been consecrated by a Brahman Pujdri. The Satany 
adorns the image with flowers, cloths, and jewels, and anoints it 
with oik They and the Brahmans who are in the service of the 
temple are the only persons that may touch the image ; they there- 
fore perform all the menial offices about the shrine, and place the 
images on their chariots, or beasts of carriage, when they are going 
in procession. The Sudra are only permitted to drag the ropes by 
which the carriage is drawn. A few of this kind of Vaishnavam are^ 
farmers, and some are employed to cultivate flower gardens, espe- 
cially those which are reserved for the use of temples. Many of 
them obtain permission from their Guru , and by receiving a new 
UpadSsa become Ekangi , assume a red or yellow dress, and, leading 
a life of celibacy, support themselves by begging. They never 
