Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 216

BEGGING BY BRAHMINS
170
Numbers
agrakaras.
called
of
these
estates
to
are
be
in the various provinces of the Peninsula.
Then again, in their character as high priests, the
found
Brah-
mins gather in the greater part of the revenue of the lands
belonging to the different temples, and furthermore receive
the offerings brought by devotees to the various idols.
A Brahmin sees nothing humiliating in asking for or
According to his ideas it is a right, of
receiving alms.
which he may make free use. His attitude when begging
is also very unlike that of the poor wretch amongst our-
The
selves, who fawns and grovels for the smallest trifle.
Brahmin asks for alms as for something that is his due,
and not as if imploring a favour or benefit. At the same
time he displays none of the importunity or impertinence
to which people are subjected by the Mahomedan fakirs,
or by the Sudra beggars who belong to the sects of Siva
The begging Brahmin boldly enters a house
or Vishnu.
and states what he wants. Should he receive anything, he
takes it without saying a word, goes away without any
acknowledgement and without showing the smallest sign
Should he meet with a refusal, however, he
of gratitude.
retires without any complaint or grumbling \
But woe betide any one who ventures to make the
Brahmins promises which he subsequently fails to perform
That would be a fearful sin, which could not fail to draw
down the divine wrath upon the guilty person. A Hindu
Hata
author gives the following example as a proof.
Hata 2 cried a monkey one day, seeing a fox devouring
In a former state of existence you must
a rotten carcase.
all
!
'
!
'
!
'
Manu says
Let every man, according to his ability, give wealth
to Brahmins, detached from the world and learned in Scripture ; such
a giver shall attain heaven after this life (xi. 6). Very early in the
statutes, a universal law is proclaimed, the spirit of which pervades the
whole code. This law calmly lays down that whatever exists in the
universe is all, in effect, though not in form, the wealth of the Brahmins
since the Brahmin is entitled to it all by his primogeniture and eminence
1
'
:
'
;
The Brahmin eats but his own food wears but his own
and bestows but his own alms through the benevolence of
apparel
the Brahmin indeed other mortals enjoy life
(i.
100-101).
This is
of birth.
'
;
;
;
'
a pretty broad principle to enunciate, so it is easy to see how there is
nothing derogatory in a Brahmin receiving alms, since he takes but what
is his own, besides leaving a blessing to the giver.
Padfield.
2
A
kind of exclamation.
Dubois.