The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 2 (of 4)Crooke, William
History
The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 2 (of 4)
Crooke, William
Caste -- India -- History; Hindus -- India; Tribes -- India -- History
23. Persons of any caste may join the Siunârâyani sect. When a
candidate wishes to affiliate himself, they first warn him of the
difficulties before him and test him for a few days, when, if approved,
he is directed to bring a present according to his means to the
headman, known as Guru or Mahant. The candidate comes before the Guru,
who sits with the scriptures opposite him, and first makes a sacrifice
by burning camphor and dason, or ten kinds of perfumes. These are
thrown on fire, and the sweet savour which arises is their form of
worship. Then some camphor is burnt before the scriptures, and all
present rub the smoke over their faces. The candidate then washes the
big toe of the Guru and drinks the water (charanamrita). Next the Guru
recites privately into his ear the formula (mantra) of initiation,
which is carefully concealed from outsiders. After this the initiate
distributes sweets to the congregation. He is then considered Sant or
initiate, and receives a small book which he is permitted to study, and
which serves as a pass of admission to future meetings. If he loses it
he has to appear at the next Basant Panchami meeting, and pay two
and-a-half rupees for a new copy, as well as a fine of five rupees for
his negligence. At these meetings there is music and singing, men and
women sit apart, and after the Mahant has finished his reading, he
receives the contributions of the faithful. They are not allowed to
drink in the Dhâmghar, but they may smoke gânja, bhang, or tobacco
there. They never practise exorcisms (ojhâi), nor do they get into a
state of religious frenzy and deliver oracles. As already stated the
dead are buried with signs of rejoicing. Some camphor is burnt in the
grave before the body is laid there, and then all present join in
filling up the grave. All initiates, male and female, are buried in
this way. Children and persons not initiated are interred without any
ceremony. If the wife of an initiate die, her relatives can take away
her body and cremate it. They marry like ordinary Chamârs, and get a
Brâhman to fix a lucky time. A similar movement among the Châmars of
Bilâspur, in the Central Provinces [199] took place under Ghâsidâs
between 1820 and 1830, and in Bikâner under Lâlgir about fifty years
ago. Their sole worship is said to consist in calling on the invisible
lord (Alakh, Alakh).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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