________________
18
RELIGIOUS SECTS
societies: the Jangamas remain, but they are chiefly confined to the south of India, and although a Pásupata, or worshipper of Siva as PASUPATI, may be occasionally encountered, yet this has merged into other sects, and particularly into that of the Kánphátá Jogis : the anthorities cited bey these sects, according to ANANDA GIRI, were the Siva Gítá, Siva Sanhita, Siva Ráhasya and Rudra Yamala Tantra: the various classes of Jogis are never alluded to, and the work asserts, what is generally admitted as a fact, that the Dandis, and Daśnámi Gosains originated with SanKARA ACHÁRYA.
Worshippers of Brahmá, or HIRANYAGARBIA, are also introduced by ANANDA Giri, whom now it might be difficult to meet with: exclusive adorers of this deity, and temples dedicated to him, do not now occur perhaps in any part of India; at the same time it is an error to suppose that public homage is never paid to him. BRAHMá is particularly reverenced at Pokher in Ajmír, also at Bithúr, in the Doab, where, at the principal Ghát, denominated Brahmávartta Ghát, he is said to have offered an Aswamedha on completing the act of creation: the pin of his slipper left behind him on the occasion, and now fixed in one of the steps of the Ghát, is still worshipped there, and on the full moon of Agraháyana (Nov.-Dec.) a very numerously attended Melá, or meeting, that mixes piety with profit, is annually held at that place.
The worshippers of AgnI no longer form a distinct class, a few Agnihotra Brahmans, who preserve the
