Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 173

TEMPLE WOMEN
133
Gurus sometimes authorize agents to collect the tributes
and offerings of the faithful, and also give them power to
impose fines on evil-doers.
After having discharged the duties to their followers
which their position imposes, and performed their daily
ablutions and sacrifices, both morning and evening, the
gurus employ the rest of their time or they ought to do
so if they adhered to their rules in the study and con-
templation of their sacred books. In the case of married
gurus the office descends from father to son. Successors
to the unmarried gurus are nominated by their superiors,
who generally choose one of their own creatures. A high
priest is usually assisted by a coadjutor during his lifetime,
who succeeds his chief as a matter of course.
To the sects both of Siva and Vishnu priestesses are
attached, that is to say, women specially set apart, under
the name of wives of the gods, for the service of one or other
of these deities.
They are quite a distinct class from the
dancing-girls of the temples, but are equally depraved.
They are generally the unfortunate victims of the immorality
of the Jangamas or Vaishnavas.
These priests, by way of
keeping up a character for good behaviour, and conciliating
the families upon whom they have brought dishonour, put
the whole blame on Vishnu or Siva
and the poor gods, as
is only fair, are forced to make amends.
So the girls are
given to the gods as wives, by the aid of a few ceremonies
and we know that these worthy gurus enjoy the privilege
of representing in everything the gods whose ministers
they are. The women who are thus consecrated to Vishnu
are called garuda-basavis (wives of garuda), and have the
image of this bird tattooed on their breasts * as the dis-
—
—
;
;
mark of their rank.
priestesses of Siva, are called linga-basavis or women
of the lingam, and bear this sign tattooed on their thighs.
Though these women are known to be the mistresses of
the priests and other dignitaries, still, for all that, they
tinctive
The
,
are treated with a certain amount of consideration
respect amongst their own sect.
and
1
This bird, which is consecrated to Vishnu, and of which I shall
presently speak at greater length, is known by European ornithologists
as the Malabar eagle.
Dubois.