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78 - MATERIAL OF SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL INTEREST I have received my, education irr a Brahmin family,. and I am married in a Nāgara family (24/1-2). Incidentally this reply contains waluable information that the Nāgara Brahmins, an important community of. Banaras, had migrated there froin Gujarat as early as the 12th century.
The keen observation of Pandita Dāmodara did not leave unnoticed even the simple dress of the students at Banaras. In the 12th century as to day the Brahmin students wore huge knots on their shaven keads, and their dress was a simple dhoti or waist-cloth (31/28-29).
It has been said above that the teachers Tooked after the moral and material welfare of their students, but there were occasions when they did not spare their rod to put their student on the right path (31/12). Even to this day Banaras Pandits regard corporal punishment as an -infallible means to compel students to take their lessons more seriously. But this kind of punishmeut did not estrange the cordial relations between the teachers and their studerts, and the latter regarded the service to their teachers as a means of shedding “their sins (2377–8). .
Religious condition of Banaras in Gāhadwāla Period.
The Ukti-Vyakti Prakarana has preserved in the popular proverbs of the eastern United Provinces the popular attitude towards religion. The people regarded religion as the source of ah happiness. Religion removed sins (5/24) and it was the source of all laws ( 5/25). In many proverbs (33/7 ; 33/12; 33/14; 33/19; 33/21; 33/23/03/25it has been emphasised that with greater emphasis on the moral side of religion sins took to their heels.
• From the proverbs quoted by the Ukti-Vyakti it is also apparent that the people of Banaras were well aware of the fundamental conceptozof Hindu religion. Compassion for all beings 9/30), desisting from stealing (9/31), getting rid of anger (9/31), realising the transience of the world (10/3), helping others (10/4), etc., were the virtues insisted upon in this period. These precious gems of religious thought of the Middle country, laying emphasis on the simple ethical concept of religion, show that there was nothing radically wrong with the heart of the people.
The Brahmins, in the medieval conception of Hindu religion, , held most predominant position in the society. It is said -at one place, that Govindăchandra established the Brahmapa community
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