Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/36

 LAUKIKA SMARTHA BRAHMIN. (413)

VAIDIKA SMARTHA BRAHMIN. (414)

Y these Photographs the difference between the appearance of the Vaidika, or religious, and Laukika, or service professing, Smartha Brahmins, will be readily perceived. As described in the last article, both shave the head with the exception of the long lock on the top; but the religious Brahmin wears no covering to it, nor to the upper part of the body. Of the two the Vaidika, who has devoted himself to the performance of religious offices, is esteemed the most sacred, and is ordinarily the most earned person.