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290
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1907.
XXXII. - Religion.
Sects. 123. The Hindus are divided into three sects, Saivas, Vaishṇavas, and Saktaks, worshippers of Sakti, the Female Principle.
The Saiva worship Siva. They are the disciples of the Sanyasi or Udasi mendicants. Some of them use meat and wine, while others do not.
The Vaisbiņavas are the followers of the Bairagis. Gencrally they do not use neat and winc. The majority of the Brahmans belong to this sect.
The Säktaks have ns their teachers the Jõgis, tbe Sanyasis, and the Udasis. They worship all sorts of deities. The use of ineat and wine at the time of worship is considered good. They saer.fice goats to the goddess Kall. There is a separate god to every village or every four or five villages Some of this sect go to Jawåla Mukbi to worship in the temple there.
Only Shekhs are found among the Muhammadan sucts. They believe in the Lakh Data Saint (the giver of millions). They do not follow any of the rules of the Hindu religion, but act according to their own laws.
124. The existing religion has been the religion of the pvople of this country from ancient times, and the three sects have always observed the rules of their own order.
125. It has been already stated that in ancient times the people followed the Vedic religion, until it was supplanted by Buddhism. After the decline of Buddhism the former roligion revived and is still flourishing.
126. Ordinarily, Hindus follow one of the three forms of belief above mentioned. Some people here and there follow the dictates of their conscience and believe in other gods and teachers. But these are very few.
. 127. Some persons worship toiles and pirs (saints) also.
The Gods of the Hill Tracts..
The Name of the No. The Name of God. village or seat of
God.
Territory.
Norts.
Do.
Devi or Durga.. Kiyâri....... Kột Khai and Lêrî is worshippol throughout the hills.
Kôtguru. 2 Chatur Mukh... Mailôn .. Kôtgurâ
All the people believe in the god of Kötgurů.
He is also worshipped in Kanehti and
Rêk and in all the small villages. 3 | Dum ... ... Danthlà .. Do. ... Worshipped only by the natives of Dantbla.
Dun.... .... Pumlâhi Do. ... The god of this one village only. Dum ... ... Shamåtblå
Do.
do. 6 Dam ....... Dalân ... ... Do.
do. Marichh ... Kepu ... ...
.. Worshipped in Kepu, Gharal, and Nanja. 8 Deva Kirti ... Kirti ... ..
... Worshipped in Kirti, BhanAnil, and Shawat. 9 Bhôtésher ... Bhộthí
.. Worshipped in Bhótbi, Baghhar, and by
the agriculturists of Mahori. Baindra ... Dèvri ...... Kot Kbåt • ... The god of the Majhghor and Thakarikghor
1 territories.
.
Do.
