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Besides these books the Digambars have other books, called Charitras, composed by inferior personages. These are Yasodhar Charitra, Sripal Charitra, Hanumant Charitra, Sita Charitra, Bhadrabahu Charitra, Jambuswami Charitra, and Pradyumna Charitra. The Swetambar have always held the Gymnosophists in the contempt due to their extravagance. So far as is here known, they are divided into 84 Gachhas, each of which is under the authority, in spirituals, of a priest called Sripujya; but every person seems to be at liberty to join whatever Gachha he chooses. The Sripujya is the Guru or spiritual guide of the Gachha, and as such, as usual among Hindus of all sects, is worshipped by his followers; but whether or not he is exactly of the same rank with Pandita Acharya, whom I have mentioned in my account of Mysore, I cannot ascertain. The Sripujya is always by birth a Srawak, and renounces all worldly pleasures. He educates a number of pupils in the same strict manner, and is succeeded by one of these, when he is translated to heaven. None of the Sripujyas would appear to reside farther east than Gwalyor. They seem to have each an abode, which may be considered as their head quarters; but they pass a great part of their time in visiting their own flocks. Although it is for these alone that they perform the offices of delivering secret instruction (upades), of distributing consecrated ashes, and of reading the book called Pritikrama; yet, wherever they go, they are received by the whole sect with the utmost respect, and in all the principal places which they freqent, houses called Pausal have been built for their accomodation. The Sripujyas and their immediate pupils, I understand, in general possess some learning. The people of each Gaccha, are so scattered, that the Sripujyas have found it necessary to appoint assistants, who may act as deputies to perform the abovementioned ceremonies, and to manage the temporal concerns of the Sripujya. These assistants are the only persons, who in these districts are called Yatis, although it would appear from Colonel Mackenzie's account, that in the south the term is considered applicable to the whole priesthood. The Yatis are of the order of Mahabrata, described in the Asiatic Researches, by Colonel Mackenzie, and ought to observe with utmost strictness the five great virtues of the Jaina law. 1st. Pranathipat, respect for the life of all creatures. 2nd. Mrishabad, truth. 3rd. Adutadhan, honesty. 4th. Maithan, Chastity. 5th. Poriga, poverty; while they have no expectation of being elevated to the high dignity of Sripujya. On this account it seems to be difficult to find persons willing to fill the office, so that children are usually purchased for the purpose, and among these the Srawaks are willing to take the children of Brahmans. The two Yatis at Behar had originally been of this order; and being still suspected of a hankering after the flesh and were far from respected
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