A. D. —
bell in his hand, they go about from place to place, subsisting upon alms. The
The Paramahausas
Paramahansas, another sect, pretend to be solely occupied with the investigation
An image should appear at this position in the text.LINGAYETS OR JaNOAMAS.
From original drawing in East India House.
of Brahma, or spirit, and to be equally
indifferent to pleasure or pain. Some,
in proof of having acquired this perfection,
go naked in all weathers, never speak, and
never indicate any natural want. They
are hence fed by their attendants, as if
they were helpless as infants. Under this
pretended helplessness much knavery is
practised. But superstition assumes a still
more offensive form in the Aghoris. Their
original worship was paid to Devi, in
some of her more terrific forms, and is said
to have consisted partly in offering human
victims. Hence they assumed a corresponding appearance, and carried about for
a wand and water-pot a staff set with bones and the upper half of a human
skull, The abominable worship has long been suppressed, but traces of it still
exist in disgusting wretches who go about extorting alms. They eat and drink
An image should appear at this position in the text.Urduabahus or Oodoobahoos. — From Solvyn, Les Hindoiis.
whatever is offered to them,
should it be carrion or ordure.
With the latter they smear their
bodies, and carry it about with
them in a wooden cup or skull,
either to swallow it, if by so
The Aghoris. doing they can gain a few pice,
or to throw it on the persons or
into the houses of those who
refuse to comply with their de-
mands. They also inflict gashes
on their limbs, that the crime of
blood may rest on those who
deny them charity ; and by
means of this and similar devices,
work upon the timid and credu-
lous Hindoo. Other Saivas are
distinguished by similar though
less disgusting enormities, and
practise the tortures which have been mentioned in describing the festivals
of Kali and Juggernaut. Thus the Urdhabahus are the devotees who extend
