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RELIGIOUS SECTS
RÁNAND, SUKHÁNAND, BHAVÁNAND, DHANNA the Ját, SENA, the barber-MaHÁNAND, PARAMÁNAND, and SRÍÁNAND', a list which shews, that the school of RáMÁNAND admitted disciples of every caste: it is, in fact, asserted in the Bhakta Malá, that the distinction of caste is inadmissible according to the tenets of the Rámánandis: there is no difference, they say, between the BhagavÁN and the Bhakt, or the deity and his worshipper; but BHAGAVÁN appeared in inferior forms, as a Fish, a Boar, a Tortoise, &c., so therefore the Bhakt may be born as a Chamár, a Koli, a Chhipi, or any other degraded caste.
The various character of the reputed disciples of RÁMÁNAND, and a consideration of the tenets of those sects which they have founded, lead to a conclusion, that this individual, if he did not invent, gave fresh force to a very important encroachment upon the ortliodox system: he, in fact, abrogated the distinction of caste amongst the religious orders, and taught, that the holy character who quitted the ties of nature and society, shook off, at the same time, all personal distinction—this seems to be the proper import of the term Avadhúta, which RÁMÁNAND is said to have affixed to his followers, and they were liberated from
1 The Bhakta Malá has a rather different list: 1. RAGIUNÁTH, 2. ANANTÁNAND, 3. Kabir, 4. SUKHÁsur, 5. JIVA, 6. PADMAVAT, 7. Pips, 8. BIAVÁNAND, 9. Raidás, 10. DHANNA, 11. SENA, 12. SURSURA. His successors, again, were somewhat different, or 1. RAGHUNÁTH, 2. ANANTÁNÁND, JOGÁNANT, Rámpás, Sri RANJA, and NARAHARI.
