Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 153

RELIGIOUS BEGGARS
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a noise and to announce their approach \ With one hand
they strike the gong with a little drumstick, producing
a bell-like sound with the other they hold the sangu to
their mouth, and blow through it shrill and piercing sounds,
which are very monotonous. These two objects are always
to be seen in the hands of those followers of Vishnu who
are beggars by profession, and who in some way resemble
On their breasts they wear
the mendicant friars of old.
a sort of brass plate, on which is engraved a likeness of the
monkey Hanumanta, or else one of the Avatars, or incarna-
Some of them wear a number of little
tions, of Vishnu.
bells either hanging from their shoulders or on their legs,
the tinkling of which warns people of their approach. To
all the above paraphernalia some add an iron rod, at each
end of which hangs a little brazier of the same metal con-
taining the fire for burning the incense of which their
;
sacrifices are
To ask
for
composed.
alms is looked upon as a
right,
and even an
inherent duty, in this sect. Indeed, as a rule in India
any one who assumes the cloak of religion can practise
begging as a profession.
It is principally when they are making pilgrimages to
some sacred spot that these religious beggars make use of
their privileges.
Sometimes you meet as many as a
thousand in one party. They scatter themselves through
the various villages within reach of their route, and each
inhabitant takes in a certain number of them, so that all
travelling expenses are saved.
This is the only occasion
on which they travel in such large numbers, though they
never wander about quite alone. Their manner when
demanding alms is most insolent and audacious, and often
threatening.
If their demands are not instantly complied
with, they will noisily repeat their request, striking their
gongs and producing the most deafening sounds from their
sangus all the time. If such methods are not successful,
they have been known to force their way into a house,
break all the household utensils, and damage everything
they can find. These religious mendicants generally pursue
their begging to an accompaniment of singing and dancing.
Their songs are a species of hymns in honour of their
1
Also devotees of Siva do this.
Ed.