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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[May, 1874.
some classes, like the 'Komatis,'or Vais. yâs of Southern India, widows are allowed to wear jewels; but their tonsure is a sine qud non of their very existence! Volumes have been written regarding the unhappy condition of a large section of our females. Rapid strides have been made by the Hindus all over India in civilization and religious freedom; but their material and moral progress is devoid of any beneficial fruit so far as their unhappy widows are concerned. There are individual pioneers, who would, in spite of all the world, introduce the remarriage of widows, and otherwise ameliorate their condition. But such solitary reformers have never hitherto enlisted the sympathy of their country. men.
Under these circumstances it would be highly interesting to inquire into the condition of the widows of a certain high-caste sect in Southern India, who alone enjoy a happy immunity from the hands of the barber. The Brahman followers of the great religious teacher, Râ mâ. nuja charya, who flourished between 900 and 1000 years ago, are called Sri Vaishnavas, and are divided into two principal sects, known respectively as the Tengalê and Vadag ha lê. Like the Muhammadan Shiyâs and Sunnis, these sectaries are very often irreconcileable in point of doctrine and ritual. They however intermarry and otherwise freely mix with each other. Their facial sectarian marks or tilakas are respectively V and V.. Their Sudra followers are also distinguished by the same marks and peculiarities.
The chief points of difference between the two sects are these. The Tengalê schismatics deny to Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, any participation in creation, and reduce her to the position of a creature; omit to ring the bell when worshipping their idols; salute each other and their gods only once ; make use of highly abstruse Tamil verses in room of Sanskrit mantras and prayers; modify the sråddha ceremony materially, and do not shave their widows. They hold, moreover, that once to give up one's self to God and to invoke his salvation is enough to secure it.
The principal texts cited by the Tengal8 Sri Vaishņa vas in support of the immunity of their widows from the rite of tonsure are the following:
• See pp. 125-6.
1. Mundanam Madhuparkam cha.
Támbûlam kusumâdikam. Maitthunam purushåņam cha Bhashanam bhûshaņâdikam. Bhartrihina cha yâ nåri Hyâpadyapi Vivarjayêt.
Sándilyah. Widows should avoid, even when in affliction and danger, shaving, eating of sweets, betel-nut, flowers, sexual intercourse, conversation with men, and jewels. II. Janmarômaņi yê nåri,
Kshaurakarma samacharêt, Kanya và vidhava vấpi Rauravam narakam vrajêt. Bhartur mritau tu bhâryâ cha Prakuryâd vapanam vina Dâhâdi pindaparyantam Prêtakâryam yaţthâvidhi. Yêshu kesha cha karyềshu Na strî kshauram samacharêt.
Sambhuh. A woman, whether unmarried or widowed, who shaves her hair, will go to the hell called Rauravam. When the husband dies, the widow should perform his due obsequies with out shaving. She should never shave on any occasion, or for any purpose whatever. III. Kanya và vidhava vấpi
Vapanam cha samacharêt Kalpa-koti-sahasrâņi Rauravam narakam vrajêt. Bhartřihina tu yå nåri Môhad vapanamacharêt Kuladvayê pitriņâm tu Vaktrê rômåņi vasyati. Bhartribina tu ya nari Mundayitvå sa mâcharêt Srauta smärtâdi karmâņi Chåndálim yonimápnuyåt.
Manuh. If any woman, whether unmarried or widowed, shave (her head), she will dwell in the hell called Rauravam for one thousand karors of kalpás. If a widow shave (her head) by ig. norance, she will cause hair to grow in the months of her ancestors' ghosts on both sides. If she perform any ceremonies inculcated by the Śrutis and Smritis with her head shaved, she will be born a Chandali. + See Indu Prakash for 19th May 1873.
