Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 324

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PUNISHING OFFENDERS AGAINST CASTE
At the same time, it must be admitted, it
an unheard-of thing to see an intoxicated Brahmin in
the public streets. The reproach of intemperance can only
be levelled at a very small number of men of low reputa-
tion, who have lost all sense of shame.
One could not,
with any degree of justice, say that the reproach was
generally applicable to Brahmins, who are in this matter
beyond even the shafts of slander itself
The duty of punishing offences of this kind devolves
to detection.
is
]
.
upon the gurus. When in the course of their peregrina-
tions they hear that any one has misconducted himself in
such a manner, they order the culprit to appear before
them and if after due investigation his delinquency is
proved, he has to listen to a severe reprimand and occasion-
Frequently also he
ally undergo corporal punishment.
has to pay a heavy fine
and if the offence is a very grave
Nevertheless, for fear lest too
one, he is put out of caste.
many persons might be inculpated, or on account of the
high position of a particular delinquent, or to avoid creat-
ing a scandal, or for other similar reasons, the gurus find
The
it advisable to shut their eyes to many peccadilloes.
gurus, too, are not always impeccable in the matter of
bribes, and will often find reasons for allowing a culprit
to escape who has managed to ingratiate himself with
;
;
them.
I was once at Dharmapuri, a small town in the Carnatic,
just at the time when a Brahmin guru was visiting that
district.
person of the Brahmin caste was accused
before him of breaking the rules with regard to food, and
even of publicly deriding them. The accusation was a
very serious one, and well substantiated so the culprit
A
;
was cited to appear, and the evidence against him was
heard.
The guru, convinced of the guilt of the accused,
had made up his mind to break his triple cord and turn
him out of caste but the accused, on hearing of this
terrible determination, showed not the smallest emotion.
Without displaying the least discomfiture he advanced
boldly into the midst of the assembly, and prostrating
;
Yet nobody can
This applies equally well in the present day.
doubt that the number of Brahmins who infringe caste-customs in
food and drink is increasing year by year.
Ed.
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