________________
344
RELIGIOUS SECTS
on one side is a sort of altar - piece of several stages; on the centre of the upper tier sits the chief deity of the temple supported by two other Arhats, whilst the rest, or a portion of them, are ranged upon the inferior tiers: the steeple is also distinguishable from that of other temples, being formed of departments, which are intended, apparently, to represent leaves, and surmounted by a pole resembling a flag - staff terminating in a gilt knob: there are several of these temples in the chief cities along the Ganges, and no fewer than a dozen in Murshidabad, to which the circumstance of the Set family being of the Jaina persuasion attracted a number of fellow worshippers. In Calcutta there are four temples, two belonging to each sect. In Behár are the temples of PÁRIŚNÁth and the Pádukas, or feet of VARDDHAMÁNA, and VÁSUPÚJYA. Benares possesses several temples, one of which, in the suburb, called Belupura, is honoured as the birthplace of PÁRÁVANÁTH. The shrine comprises two temples, one belonging to the Svetámbaras, and one to the Digambaras. A temple of some size and celebrity occurs at Mainpuri, in the Doab, and most of the towns in that direction present Jain spires. The chief temples, however, are to the westward, and especially at Jaypur. The whole of Mewar and Marwúr is strewed with remains of the sacred edifices of this sect.
The Jains of the South of India, as has been observed, are divided into castes: this is not the case in Upper Hindustan, where they are all of one caste, or, which is the same thing, of none. They are nevertheless equally tenacious of similar distinctions, and not
