Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/83

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AJO The Nirmohi, or Void-of-affection Ghat and Guptar Ghat.

2.

5 sect,

who have

establishments

Ram

at

S.

Digambari,

4.

The Khaki,

5.

The Mahdnirbdni,

6.

The Santokhi, or Patient

7.

The Niralambhi,

or

Naked

sect of ascetics.

or Ash-besmeared deTotees, or literally

Dumb

branch.

family.

or Provisionless sect.

The expenses of these different establishments, of which the first is by far the most important, are met from the revenues of lands which have been assigned to them, from the offerings of pilgrims and visitors, and from the alms collected by the disciples in their wanderings all over India. The Nirhiini 1.

sect.

—

I believe the

mahant

of the

Nirbdni Alchdra

or

Hanoman Garhi has six hundred disciples, of whom as many as three of four hundred are generally in attendance, and to whom rations are served out at noon daily.

Kishan Dasi.

I Mani Rdmi

The present incumbent has divided his followers into four thaJcs or parties, to whom the names of four disciples, as marginally noted, have been given. 4.

Jankisaran Dasi.

There are in this sect -fiifst, lay-brothers, second anchorites the former do not abandon the world, the latter first make a round of the sacred places, Dwarka, Jagannath, Gya, and are then admitted to full brotherhood celibacy is enforced all castes are admitted, but Brahmans and Ghhattris have two exceptional privileges, they are admitted over the age of sixteen and they are exempted from servile offices.

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—

Nirmnhi sect. It is said that one Gobind Das came from Jaipur some two hundred years ago, and having acquired a few bighas of revenue-free Mahant Tulsi land, he built a shrine and settled himself at Ram Gh^t. Das is the sixth in succession. There are now two branches of this order, one at Ram Ghat, and the other occupying the temples at Guptar Ghat. They have rent-free holdings in Basti, Mankapur, and Khurdabad. The Digambari

sect.

—

Sri

Balram Das came

to

Ajodhya two hundred

not known, and having built a temple settled Mahant Hira Das is the seventh incumbent. The establishment here. of resident disciples is very small, being limited to fifteen they have several revenue-free holdings in the district. years ago, whence

it

is



The Khdhi

sect.

—When

Ram

Chandar became an

exile

from Ajo-

have smeared his dhya, his brother Lachhman is said, in his grief, to Hence he was called body' with ashes and to have accompanied him. this date. In the Khdki, and his admiring followers bear that name to

Ram, is said to have come days of Shujd-ud-daula, one mahant, Daya bighas of land, he thereon from Chitarkot, and having obtained four of Bairdgis now includes 180 established the akhdra, and this order This establishment itinerant. persons of whom 50 are resident and 130