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RELIGIOUS SECTS
of pilgrimage, to the sacred shrines of the sect, and notoriously reconcile, upon these occasions, the profits of trade with the benefits of devotion: as religious travellers, however, this iion of objects renders them more respectable than the vagrants of any other sect.
The practices of the sect are of a similar character with those of other regular worshippers: their temples and houses have images of GoPál, of KRISHNA and Rádus, and other divine forms connected with this incarnation, of metal chiefly, and not unfrequently of gold: the image of KRISHNA represents a chubby boy, of the dark hue of which VisuŇU is always represented: it is richly decorated and sedulously attended; receiving eight times a day the homage of the votaries. These occasions take place at fixed periods and for certain purposes; and at all other seasons, and for any other object, except at stated and periodical festivals, the temples are closed and the deity invisible. The eight daily ceremonials are the following:
1. Mangala; the morning levee: the image being washed and dressed is taken from the couch, where it is supposed to have slept during the night, and placed upon a seat about half an hour after sun-rise: slight refreshments are then presented to it, with betel and Pán: lamps are generally kept burning during this ceremony.
2. Sringárd; the image having been anointed and perfumed with oil, camphor, and sandal, and splendidly attired, now holds his public court: this takes
