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OF THE HINDUS.
275 founder, as the name imports: they profess to be free from all worldly soil or stain and, consequently, lead a wholly religious life. They observe celibacy, and disregard their personal appearance, often going nearly naked. They are not, like the Udúsís, assembled in colleges, nor do they hold any particular form of divine service, but confine their devotion to speculative meditation on the perusal of the writings of NÁNAK, Kabir, and other unitarian teachers. They are always solitary, supported by their disciples or opulent individuals, and are often known as able expounders of the Vedánta philosophy, in which Brahmans do not disdain to become their scholars. They are not very numerous; but a few are almost always to be found at the principal seats of Hindu wealth and learning, and particularly at Benares.
NÁGAS. The naked mendicants of the Sikhs are said to differ
An interesting account of the religious service of the Sikhs, in their college at Patna, was published by Mr. Wilkins, in the first volume of the Asiatic Researches. I witnessed a similar ceremony at a Sikh establishment at Benares, and partook of the Prasida, or sweetmeats, distributed to the assistants. Both Mr. Wilkins and Sir Jou MALCOLM notice this eating in common, as if it were peculiar to the Sikh faith; but this, as elsewhere observed, is not the case. It prevails with most of the Vaishnava sects; but it should be remembered that it is always restricted to articles which have been previously consecrated by presentation to the object of worship, to the Idol, the sarcophagus, the sculptured foot-marks, or the book.
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