TEMPLE REVENUES 295
grossest flattery, verging on the absurd, is what is most
pleasing to the ears of their modest patrons, and is the surest way of loosening the latter ' s purse-strings. But the
most inexhaustible mine of wealth to Brahmins is their religion. As chief priests they exercise the highest functions, and consequently derive almost all the profit. In certain famous temples, such as Tirupati, Rameswaram,
Jaganath( Puri) and others, thousands of Brahmins live
on the revenues with which these temples are endowed.
Those who cannot find means of existence in their native
country go and seek their fortunes elsewhere, often journeying as much as two hundred miles from their families.
Expatriation is a very small matter to them, and they never hesitate to accept it if there is anything to be gained
by it.
CHAPTER XI
Religious Tolerance amongst the Brahmins.— Their Indifference with
regard to their own Religion.— Their Sublime Ideas of the Deity.
A Comparison between them and the Greek Philosophers.— The State of Christianity.— The Political Intolerance and Ignorant
Presumption of Brahmins.
I have already said that the general feeling amongst
Brahmins is that all the Hindu deities ought to receive an equal share of attention and worship, since they are not really antagonistic one to another. The quarrels and wars which erstwhile took place between these deities were never of long duration, and have in no wise prevented their living since then in perfect amity together. I have also remarked that in consequence of this the greater
number of the Brahmins strongly disapprove of the numerous sectaries who devote themselves to the worship of one particular deity and pay little or no attention to the others, on the ground that they are inferior and subordinate to the special deity which they prefer. But are these selfsame Brahmins really so devoted to the religion of their country and to the worship of these deities?
Well, though this assertion may appear paradoxical, I should say that,
of all Hindus, they care the least and have the smallest amount of faith in them. It is by no means uncommon