Page:Hindu Feasts Fasts and Ceremonies.djvu/70

54 powers of exposition of the preacher. Whether the audiences return home the wiser for having attended such lectures or not, there can be no doubt that the Bhagavatas return the richer; for, their fees, in most cases, for a lecture range from Rs. 10 to 100 according to their power to amuse, instruct or divert the audience. One with a decidedly musical talent is more popular among the people than one with mere learning. Sometimes these modern Bhagavatas drive in coaches to their places of preaching while the sages of the old had perhaps to perform their long and tedious journeys on foot. Some of them robe themselves in silks and shawls and glitter in diamonds, while the Bhagavatas of old were content perhaps with the bark of trees. Many of the popular Bhagavatas often earn Rs. 200 to 500 and sometimes more a month. For all that what is an average Bhagavata? When compared with the sages of old most of the modern Bhagavatas have only a show of knowledge and are yet admired by an audience who wonder "how such a small head could carry so much wonderful knowledge" in Tamil, Telugu, Kanarese, Sanskrit, Mahratti, Hin-