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OF THE HINDUS.
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fetters which he had found so inconvenient: in allusion to this, indeed, he gave, it is said, the appellation Avadhúta, or Liberated, to his scholars, and they admit no particular observances with respect to eating or bathing', but follow their own inclination, or comply with the common practice in these respects. The initiatory Mantra is said to be Śrí Ráma -- the salutation is Jaya Sri Ráma, Jaya Rám, or Sítá Rám: their marks are the same as those of the preceding, except that the red perpendicular streak on the forehead is varied, in shape and extent, at the pleasure of the individual, and is generally narrower than that of the RÁMÁNUJAS.
Various sects are considered to be but branches of the Rámánandi Vaishnavas, and their founders are asserted to have been amongst his disciples: of these disciples, twelve are particularised as the most eminent, some of whom have given origin to religious distinctions of great celebrity, and, although their doctrines are often very different from those of RÁMÁNAND, yet the popular tradition is so far corroborated, that they maintain an amicable intercourse with the followers of RÁMÁNAND, and with each other.
The twelve chief disciples of RÁMÁNAND are named, as follows - ÁSÁNAND, Kabir, the weaver, Raidás, the Chamár, or currier, Pips, the Rájaput, SURSU
The Vairagis of this sect, and some others, eat and drink together, without regard to tribe or caste, and are thence called kulatút, or Varnatúi.