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RELIGIOUS SECTS
The spiritual descendants of SANKARA, in the first degree, are variously named by different authorities, but usually agree in the number. He is said to have had four principal disciples, who, in the popular traditions, are called Padmapáda, Hastamalaka, Sureśvara or Mandana, and Trotaka. Of these, the first had two pupils, Tirtha and Áśrama; the second, Vana and Aranya; the third had three, Sarasvati, Puri, and Bhárati; and the fourth had also three, Giri or Gir, Párvata, and Súgara. These, which being all significant terms were no doubt adopted names, constitute collectively the appellation Daśnámí, or the ten - named, and when a Brahman enters into either class he attaches to his own denomination that of the class of which he becomes a member; as Tirtha, Purí, Gír, &c.'. The greater proportion of the ten
inay therefore be but a fair average allowance, and the above list comprises at that rate an interval of 657 years: at what period it closes does not appear; but the Hálakánara language is obsolete, and the work is possibly not less than two or three centuries old. This series of Gurus is so far corroborative of the view elsewhere taken of SANKARA's date; but as it has been extracted by a Pandit from a work which I could not consult myself, it is by no means certain that it is correct, and I do not wish to attach any undue importance to the authority.
It is scarcely worth while perhaps to translate words of such common occurrence, but to prove what I have stated in the text, I subjoin their signification: Tirtha, a place of pilgrimage; Asrama , an order, as that of student, householder, &c.; l'ana, a wood; Aranya, a wood; Sarasvati, the goddess of speech and eloquence; Puri, a city; Bharati, speech, or its goddess; Giri, a mountain; in common use it always occurs Gir, which implies
