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OF THE HINDUS.
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recommended, but latitude of practice is not unfrequent; and the Siva Náráyanis, of the lower orders, are occasionally addicted to strong potations.
The sect derives its appellation from that of its founder SIVANÁRÁYAN, a Rajput, of the Nerivána tribe, a native of Chandávan, a village near Ghazipur: he flourished in the reign of MOHAMMED SHán, and one of his works is dated Samvat, 1791, or A. D. 1735. He was a voluminous writer in the inculcation of his doctrines, and eleven books, in Hindi verse, are ascribed to him. They are entitled: Lao or Lava Granth, Sántvilás, Vajan Granth, Sántsundara, Gurunyás, Sántáchári, Sántopadeśa, Sabdávali, Sántparvána, Sántmahima, Sántságar.
There is also a twelfth, the Seal of the whole, but it has not yet been divulged, remaining in the exclusive charge of the head of the sect. This person resides at Balsande, in the Ghazipur district, where there is a college and establishment.
The Sivanáráyanís are mostly Rájputs, and many are Sipáhís: many of the Up-country Bearers also belong to the sect. The members are said to be numerous about Ghazipur, and soine are to be inet with in Calcutta.
SÚNYAVÁDÍS. The last sect which it has been propose to noticed is one of which the doctrines are atheistical. There is no novelty in this creed, as it was that of the Chárvákas and Nástikas, and is, to a great extent, that
