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OF THE HINDUS.
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seeds, or of coral beads, but of no greater length than may be concealed in the hand, or they keep it in a small purse, or a bag of red cloth. In worshipping they wear a piece of red silk round the loins, and decorate themselves with garlands of crimson flowers.
KÁNCHULIYAS.
This is a sect of which the existence may be questioned, notwithstanding the assertion that it is not uncommon in the South of India. The worship is that of SAKTI, and the practices are similar to those of the Kaulas, or Vámáchárís. It is said to be distinguished by one peculiar rite, the object of which is to confound all the ties of female alliance, and to enforce not only a community of women amongst the votaries, but disregard even to natural restraints. On occasions of worship the female votaries are said to deposit their upper vests* in a box in charge of the Guru. At the close of the usual rites the male worshippers take each a vest from the box, and the female to whom the garment appertains, be she ever so nearly of kin to him, is the partner for the time of his licentious pleasures1.
* [Called Kanchuti in Tamil; hence the name of the sect.]
This sect appears in the Sankara Vijaya, as the Uchchhishia Ganapati, or Hairamba sect, who declare that all men and all women are of one caste, and that their intercourse is free from fault.
पुरुषाणां सर्वजातिकानामेकजातिवदित्येको धर्मः स्त्रीणां सर्वजातिकानामेकजातिवदित्येको धर्मः । तासाञ्च तेषाञ्च संयोगे वियोगे च दोषाभावः ।
