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RELIGIOUS SECTS
have these objects carved on wooden stamps, with which they impress the emblems on their bodies, and others carry their devotion so far as to have the parts cicatrized with heated metallic models of the objects they propose to represent, but this is not regarded as a creditable practice': besides these marks, they wear a neclace of the wood of the Tulasi, and carry a rosary of the seeds of the same plant, or of the Lotus.
The principal authorities of this sect are the comments of the founder on the Sútras of VYÁSA, and other Vaidika works: they are written in Sanskrit,
bear them, and the same work observes, that no sin can exist in the individuals who make use of them, be they of whatever caste. ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वा यदि वेतरः । विष्णुभक्तिसमायुक्तो क्षेयः सर्वोत्तमश्च सः ॥ शङ्खचक्राङ्किततनुः शिरसा मञ्जरीधरः । गोपीचन्दनलिप्ताङ्गो दृष्टश्चेत्तदघं कुतः ॥
The Vrihan Náradiya Purána sentences every Brahman adopting the practice to endless degradation, and even to the infernal regions.
तथाहि संतप्तशङ्खादिलिङ्ग चिह्नतनुर्नरः । स सर्वपतकभोगी चाण्डालो जन्मकोटिभिः ॥ तं द्विजं तप्तशङ्खादिलिङ्गाङ्किततनुं हरः । संभाव्य रौरवं याति यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दशः ॥
The reason also occurs -
ब्राह्मणस्य तनुर्ज्ञेया सर्वदेवानामाश्रिता । सा चेत्संतापिता राजन्किमु वच्यामहे वयम् ॥
"The body of a Brahman is the abode of all the Gods, if that is consumed, where shall we abide ?” It appears, however, that stamping the mark with a hot iron, is commonly in use in the Dekhan. A similar practice seems to have been known to some of the early Christians, and baptizing with fire was stamping the cross on the forehead with a hot iron,
