12 Rajendralala Mitra— Spirituous Drinks in Ancient India. [No. 1, 
company ; they “ drink, drink, and drink until they fall down in utter 
helplessness, then rising again they drink, in the hope of never having 
a second birth.”* In such circles (Bhairavi chakra) Kaulas of all castes 
are admissible, for, say the Tantras, when once in the mystic circle, all castes 
are superior to Brahmans, though on coming out of it, they revert to their 
respective ranks in civil society.f It is true that this “ left-handed” or 
secret worship ( vdmachdra :■) is observed by a few of the most ardent votaries 
of the sect, at long intervals ; and the Tantras inculcate absolute secrecy in its 
performance, and disclosure is condemned as calculated to frustrate all its 
merits, and prove highly disreputable ; but the use of wine is enjoined at 
the ordinary daily prayers or sandhyas, and on particular occasions it is a 
sine qua non. I knew a highly respectable widow lady, connected with one 
of the most distinguished families in Calcutta, who belonged to the Kaula 
sect, and had survived the 75th anniversary of her birthday, who never said 
her prayers, (and she did so regularly every morning and evening) without 
touching the point of her tongue with a tooth-pick dipped in a phial of 
arrack, and sprinkling a few drops of the liquor on the flowers which she 
offered to her god. I doubt very much if she had ever drunk a wine-glassful 
of arrack at once in all her life, and certain it is that she never had any 
idea of the pleasures of drinking ; but, as a faithful Kaula, she felt herself 
in duty bound to observe the mandates of her religion with the greatest 
scrupulousness. That thousands of others do so, I have every reason to 
believe. In some parts of Bengal, where arrack is not easily accessible, 
such female votaries prepare a substitute by dropping the milk of a cocoa- 
nut in a bell-metal pot, or milk in a copper vessel, and drink a few drops 
of the same. Men are, however, not so abstemious, and the Tantras ordain a 
daily allowance of five cupsful, the cup being so made as to contain five 
tolas, or two ounces,J i. e. they are permitted to take ten ounces or about a 
pint of arrack daily. 
The most appropriate way of drinking liquor is in the mystic circle 
above noticed; but as this cannot be got up every day, the devotee takes 
the bulk of his potation alone after the evening prayer. He is also at 
liberty to drink wherever he likes, and in whatever company chance may 
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