1890.] P. N. Bose — Chhattlsyar : votes on its tribes, sects and castes. 295 
have any other object of worship. All the Kabirpanthis I questioned 
did not certainly declare their belief in one God, as the Satnatnis in- 
variably did. 
Kabirisiu notwithstanding its anti-Hindu tenets is not in such 
bad repute amongst the Hindus as Satnamism is. This is probably due 
to the fact, that the latter is profosssd by chamars only, whereas the 
former counts amongst its followers many Hindus, not excepting even 
Brahmans and Rajputs. The Paukas form the greater majority of the 
Kabirpanthis of Chhattisgar ; I have not met a single Paukd who is not 
a Kabirpanthi. The Gandas, Telis, Marax’s, Kunbis, &c., contribute 
large numbers, the Telis especially. In these cases, those who become 
Kabirpanthis are not excommunicated, but continue to live with their 
caste people : for instance, a Teli’s becoming a Kabirpanthi would not 
interfere with his marrying into a non-Kabirpanthi Teli family. The 
Brahmans and Rajputs, on becoming Kabirpanthis, are renounced by their 
castes. Their number, however, is small and they are amply compen- 
sated by the bestowal on them of all the fat posts of the order. 
Though the Satndmis and the Kabirpanthis equally profess disre- 
gard for caste distinctions, the latter do not cari’y their disregax’d into 
practice, or do so to a limited extent. Though Kabir, the founder of 
the sect, preached the equality of all men and had Muhammadan as well 
as Hindu folloxvers, I have not come across a single Muhammadan mem- 
ber of the order in Chhattisgar ; and it is certain that a chamar will 
not now be admitted. The Kabirpanthis I have met, usually obsei-ve 
caste restrictions ; a Teli Kabirpanthi, for instance, would not eat food 
cooked by a Pauka belonging to the same order. 
The ceremony of conversion is very simple, consisting in blowing the 
mantra into the ear of the convert, and placing a necklace of wooden 
beads round his neck. 
The constitution of the order is similar to that of the Satnami sect. 
Thei’e is a guru who is venerated, woi’shipped 1 should say. The guru 
lives at Kawarda, the capital of a feudatory state of the same name, iu 
the noi'th-westei’n portion of Chhattisgar. Like the Satnami guru he 
ooca.sionally goes out on tour in great pomp. Ho has got his deputies 
called Bhandai’is and Mohants dispei'sed all over the country, who make 
converts, collect conti’ibutions, and officiate at social cei'emonies. 
The dead are buried. A grave is dug, aud the corpse laid in it with 
the head to the north, and a Mohant or, iu his absence, some cldei'ly Kabir- 
panthi blows into its ears some sacred names, and pours into its mouth 
some cocoanut oil, after which eveiy member of the party with his back 
to the grave, throws a handful of soil into it, then he turns towards the 
grave and fills it up. Those who can afford rai,se a memorial over it. 
