130 PASTORAL VISITS OF GURUS
receive tokens of respect, or rather of adoration, that are
not offered to the gods themselves. And this is not surprising when one remembers that every Hindu is fully
persuaded that, under certain circumstances, the gurus have authority even over the celestial powers.
From time to time gurus make tours of inspection in those districts where their followers are most numerous.
They sometimes go as much as a hundred miles from their habitual residence. The chief, if not the only, object of the expedition is to collect money. Besides the fines which they impose upon those who have committed some crime, or been guilty of breaking some rule of their caste or sect, they are merciless in extorting tribute money from their followers, which often greatly exceeds their means. They call this method of obtaining money dakshina 1 and padakanikai 2, and no one, however poor he may be, is exempt from paying it. There is no insult or indignity that gurus will not inflict upon any one who either cannot or will not submit to this tax. Deaf to all entreaties, they cause the defaulter to appear before them in an ignominious and humiliating attitude, publicly overwhelm him with insults and reproaches, and order that mud or cow- dung shall be
thrown in his face. If these means do not succeed, they force him to give up one of his children, who is obliged to work without wages until the tribute money is paid.
Indeed, they have been known to take away a man ' s wife as compensation. Finally, as a last and infallible resource, they threaten him with their malediction; and such is the Hindu ' s credulity, and so great his dread of the evils which he foresees will fall upon him if the curse be spoken, that, if it is not absolutely impossible, he submits and pays the required sum 3.
The gurus also increase their revenue by means of taxes, called guru-dakshina, which are levied on the occasion of
1
Dakshina literally means the sacrificial fee. It has now come to mean gift. The gift to the priest is enforced more or less among the
Madhvas; but among the Sivaites and Vishnavites the priests are more
lenient. Ed.
- This word means literally ' offering at the feet.' See Chapter III. Dubois.
3
Nowadays gurus exercise less extensive powers over their disciples.
— Ed.