Indian Antiquary Vol 11

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 37

JANUARY, 1882.]
BOMBAY BEGGARS AND CRIERS.
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panied him, little knowing the destruction that assuming the name of Sopán, Nivrati, Jūânðbâ awaited him. Conducting him to a seat in and Muktábâi have written abhangs, or verses Hemadpant's house, Hemâdpant, in accordance describing and praising the light caused by the with the customs of the country, asked Krishnam. closing of the nose, the ears, and the eyes. bhat to bathe, as the dinner was ready. The god The founder of the sect is held in great respect of course would not do so, as he would require and worshipped as the true incarnation of to remove his crown, but Hemadpant, persisting Vishnu. They worship also Dattatraya. The and showering abuse on him, made a sign to Krishnacharitramsita, written by him, is held one of the bystanders, who took the crown off in the highest esteem. They abhor the rough his head, and the would-be god stood in his stone or timber blocks besmeared with red original form. He was at once made a prisoner, paint and stuck up in fields or under trees, along with his followers, their heads shaved, and if they know that there is one in the and 88 a mark of dishonour, they were road they are travelling they will make a given black clothes to wear and ultimately circuit to avoid it. They consider it meri. banished.
torious to make converts to their faith, but The Månbhêvas however deny this, and say they exercise & very considerable degree of that they are the followers of Balarama, caution in guarding against persons of im. Krishna's brother, and that the colour of the proper character being admitted into their clothes which Balarama wore was black. On society. They are always anxious to avoid this plea they say that black clothes were giving the least umbrage to the relatives and not formerly regarded as a sign of dishonour by friends of a candidate. MÅrgaśirsha is their all, and hence their sect has not sprung from sacred month, and Krishnajanmashtami and wickedness, but is as pure as any other. The Gokalashtami are their festivals. name of the sect is derived from mahd and They are considered by Brahmans as most anubhava, or men of great knowledge. The degraded and heretical. At meals food is sect is said to have come into existence about served out only once, and before sitting to the year 1125 Saka, when Hemådpant was dine they loudly repeat Krishna's name and minister to Ramachandra of Devagiri. If this then eat. be true (see vol. VI, p. 366,) the sect was formed the secular class among them marry and do about 650 years ago, that is, it originated about not shave the head. A man wishing to marry 75 years before Ji& nesvara. Their head is places his bag on that of the woman's he called a Mahant, and their head-quarters is in the loves, and if she does not remove it, her Berar provinces. They have five monasteries, consent is understood as obtained and the Narmath, Narayanamath, Reshimath, Pravara- | marriage settled. After this the man and math and Prakasamath. Subordinate to these woman lie on separate beds, and the man reare others. Under each Mabant are a number peating, Sri Krishnachd gadbadgunda ald, of disciples, and a successor is appointed to meaning Krishna's confusion is come,' the him from amongst the disciples by votes. A woman answers, Khushal evundyd, meaning Mahant has insignia of honour and state, a you are welcome,' when the man and woman palanquin, seal, chaoris, and peacock-feather roll towards each other, and embracing one fly-flap. Minbhâvąs do not teach their reli- another are husband and wife. The MÂnbhayas gious doctrines to others than their own disciples. bury their dead at some distance from the usual Their sacred books are written in a peculiar burning ground, heaping round the body & alphabet, and this, like their doctrines, they do quantity of salt. They perform no funeral not teach to strangers. Capt. Mackintosh says ceremonies, observe no mourning, sútak, and they think it necessary that each and every perform no shraddh. Cruelty to life they abhor member should be taught to read at least to such an extent that on Dasara holidays, the commentaries of the Bhagavat Gita. Their
when goats, sheep, and buffaloes are offered, they sacred books are the Bhagavat Gitá, Limnidhi, leave their houses, and live for a couple of Lilámrita-Sindhu (Sanskrit), Rukhminisva- days or so in jangals. They never drink water yamara, Ballila, Gopivildsa, and other Marathi withoutstraining it, and, turning the cloth upside books in verse. Some of the M&nbhvas down float it in a running stream to restore