Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/225

 BAIRAGEE. (277)

AIRAGEES have been described on former occasions (ante No. 144, Vol. III., and 203, Vol. IV.), and their peculiarities explained. They are from all sects of Hindooism, and all castes except the very lowest—men who are urged by religious zeal to give up the world, or who find in pilgrimages, and subsistence on the alms and gifts of the charitable and superstitious, a varied and pleasant existence. Bairagees are found everywhere, in all parts of India, and even beyond its confines. As these itinerant friars wander from place to place, they are received by the monks of settled mutts or monasteries, and furthered on their way. Others selecting some lonely ravine or cave on a hill side, or the foot of a huge peepul or banian tree, live among its gnarled roots, and practise almost inconceivable austerities and penances, being supported by offerings of milk and food, given by the people around them. Their vows of celibacy and frugality are well kept; but Bairagees indulge in smoking ganja or hemp leaves, which induces intoxication in various forms, according to the constitution of the smoker. The subject of the present Photograph was a Jat. He has left wife and children under an irresistible religious zeal, and, forswearing the world, has become a Bairagee. The broad trident of Vishnu is painted on his forehead, the sides white, with red between, and he worships Krishna, as an incarnation of Vishnu. On his head is a tinsel crown, worn over a skull cap, instead of a turban; and on a bamboo pole, covered with red cotton cloth, upon his shoulders, decked with gay peacock's feathers and wild flowers, are slung two baskets covered with red or orange cotton cloth, which contain pots of Ganges water. He may have filled these at the great festival of Hurdwar, and is most likely on his way to Dwarka, in Goojerat, where he has made a vow to pour the contents over the holy image of Krishna worshipped there. The cotton covers are gaily ornamented with red and white or blue and white borders, like those on his tawny coloured drawers. His jacket is of the same tawny colour, and his wooden beads are the mark of his entry into the order. As he travels, his two tinkling bells bear him pleasant company, and