24 RICJHT-HAXD AND LEFT-HAND FACTIONS
Amongst the different classes of Sudras , those who permit widow remarriage are considered the most abject ,
and . except the Pariahs , I know very few castes in which such marriages are allowed to take place openly and with the sanction of the caste l .
The division into castes is the paramount distinction amongst the Hindus ; but there is still another division , that of sects . The two best known are those of Siva and Vishnu , which are again divided into a large number of others .
There are several castes , too , which may be distinguished by certain marks painted on the forehead or other parts of the body .
The first three of the four main castes , that is to say the Brahmins , Kshatriyas , and Vaisyas , are distinguished by a thin cord hung across from the left shoulder to the
right hip . But this cord is also worn by the Jains and even by the Panchalas , or five castes of artisans , so one is apt to be deceived by it .
From what has been said it will appear that the name of a caste forms after all its best indication . It was thus that the tribes of Israel were distinguished . The names of several of the Hindu castes have a known meaning ; but for the most part they date from such ancient times that it is impossible to find out their significance .
There is yet another division more general than any
I have referred to yet , namely , that into Right-hand and
Left-hand factions . This appears to be but a modern invention , since it is not mentioned in any of the ancient books of the country ; and I have been assured that it is unknown in Northern India . Be that as it may , I do not believe that any idea of this baneful institution , as it exists
at the present day , ever entered the heads of those wise lawgivers who considered they had found in caste distinctions the best guarantee for the observance of the laws which they prescribed for the people .
This division into Right-hand and Left-hand factions , whoever invented it , has turned out to be the most direful
1
Remarriage of virgin widows is one of the foremost planks in the platform of Social Reform , but it is opposed violently by the orthodox .— En .