Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/77

 PUNDIT RAMNARAIN. (127)

HE Photograph represents a Pundit, or Brahmin religious instructor, Ramnarain by name. He is an inhabitant of Coel (Allyghur), where the family have lived for upwards of 200 years. They are the rehgious instructors of the people, and professional astrologers and fortune-tellers. They also preside at marriage ceremonies, and have certain established fees which they receive from the wealthier classes of Hindoos, and especially from the Bunneahs. They are votaries of the goddess Devee or Kali, but, as Brahmins, all other deities of the Pantheon are included in their worship. It is hardly credible how much of the observances of the Hindoos, even of the educated and respectable classes, is dependent upon lucky or unlucky days and hours, as decided by Pundit astrologers. Not only do the grave questions of marriage, of journeys, of buying and selling, of serious undertakings of all and every kind, depend upon the astrologer's counsel, but the putting on of new clothes, being shaved, having the hair and nails trimmed, paying visits, giving entertainments and the like, as well as reaping or sowing fields, planting trees, commencing buildings, or repairs, must all be decided, as to the most proper and fortunate hours, by the Pundit; and in short, there are no questions of social significance or necessity, which, in most Hindoo families able to pay for them, are not referred for the Pundit's advice and decision, and are decided on the peculiar aspects and conjunctions of the planets. Many Pundits are well read in astronomical science, and are able to calculate eclipses of the sun and moon on a principle which gives results very close to our own; and part of their ordinary profession is to construct almanacks for the coming year, wherein not only are all eclipses determined, but the positions of the planets in the signs of the zodiac for every day and hour of the day; lucky and unlucky days are specified, and in some instances wars or disturbances which may threaten are predicted, or the contrary in peaceful and undisturbed days during the year. Pundits are well-educated men according to the Hindoo system, and are able to read and expound the sacred writings; nor can the title of Pundit, which signifies learned, be assumed without