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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
The chélas get their fees and go. Every year after the crop is gathered in Hâr, they go through this service, with the exception of the making of the shrine, the butti on the thard (the altar on the platform).
IV. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
a. Priests.
With respect to their priests, whose names are Bâlâ Shah, Markhande, Miân Sârâ, Lâl Beg, Balmik, Jhanmprâ, Pir Jhotâ, Gungar Beg, Ail Malûk, they look on them as autárs (incarnations) of the one Bâlâ. Jhaumprâ in one of these traditions is called by Alif Chêla, the tenth incarnation.
[DECEMBER, 1906.
The priests are called pir, and do duty at marriages and funerals. At marriages the mirást (bard) places a divd, lamp of atá (dough), in a clean place and the people bow before it, while he says that the jôt, or light of their ancestors, is being burnt.
Their faqirs or sadhús are Shah Madari, Naushâhiyâ, Nangeshâhiya, Yatimshâhiya, Bairagi. The Shah Madariya has a lit, or bodi, and a rosary. The Nangeshâhiya have long hair plaited with bor ka dudh, the milk of the banyan tree, and washed with earth. They bind it round the head with a cord of wool, and wear over it a turban of yellow cloth. They wear a large bead over the forehead. They go naked for twelve years, having the person smeared with ashes.
The Bairagi is dressed much like the Nangeshâhiya, but he carries a bairagan, or prop, on which he sits.
The Naushâhiya has the hair untied. He wears a rosary, and on the wrist an ornament called a gajrá. His clothes are yellow whatever he has of clothes.
The Yatimshahiya is like the Bairagi.
The faqirs' work is to expel evil spirits with their mantras (incantations).
b. Articles of faith.
The tenets of their religion are especially
1. Sin is a reality.
2.
There is one God.
3. Bâlâ is a mediator.
Saddi kik téré aggé, Téri kük dhur Dargáé.
Our cry is to thee;
Thy cry reaches the Presence of God.
Amin.
4. They sacrifice an animal, and also present offerings of corn, gur, ghi. It is cooked and placed on the shrine. It is called kardhi.
5. The spirit returns to God.
6. There will be a resurrection of the body.
7. There will be judgment.
8. There are angels.
The gyání, chêla or priest, stands in front, the congregation behind him. When the gyání (knowing one) says, 'Bolo, momino, sarbgati,' they say, Amin, sarbgait,' i.e., let all have salvation. The victim sacrificed is a fowl or a goat according to their means. It is called Allah dá Nám, God's Name.' The food is distributed and eaten, and the panj sifaten, five attributes, are sung.
