The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 2 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Religion
The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 2 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Iran -- Religion; Religions
There are two classes of Sanyásis: the one, the _Dandaheri_,[223] do
not wear long hair, and are attached to the precepts and regulations
of the _smriti_, or of the law: the second are the _Avadhútas_;[224]
they are like the other class; they wear the zunar, and drink water
mixed with ashes; but, contrary to the Dandahar, they let their hair
grow so that it becomes like ropes, and this they call _juta_;[225]
they do not bathe every day, and rub their head and body with ashes,
which they call _bhabút_;[226] at the time of death, the two classes,
having tied the body in a bag full of salt, throw it into the water,
where, by its weight and that attached to it, it remains a few days
sunk in the bottom, until they bury it in the earth.
The head of the second class is Sankara acharya; Saha dèva, the rája
of Kachmir, who in the year 750 of the Hejira (1349 A. D.) pulled off
the garment of the world, chose him for his teacher. Sankara acharya
was a learned Brahman, of a very independent mind; the Hindus say that
when the learned did not understand the Vedanta-śastra, Mahádéva,
having incarnated himself, appeared in the shape of Sankara acharya,
for the purpose of interpreting the Vedanta doctrine, upon which
subject many books have been written. _Sastra_[227] signifies, in the
Sankrit language, “science,” and _Véda_, the “heavenly book,” as has
been said; _anta_,[228] is “end, the accomplishment;” that is, “the
accomplishment of the intended object;” and the intent of the Veda is
the knowledge of God and of one’s self. On that account this science,
which consists in the knowledge of the union of God, as it is to be
derived from the text of the Veda, has been entitled _Veda-anta_, “the
accomplishment of the Veda.” Sankara acharya was a _Jnáni_, “a saint,
a divine,” professing the unity of God; his speeches and actions
became the code of the Jnánis.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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