________________
68
RELIGIOUS SECTS
perhaps the most numerous, they yield in influence and wealth to the Saiva branches, especially to the Atits: hence, however, they predominate, and either by themselves, or their kindred divisions, almost engross the whole of the country along the Ganges and Jamna: in the district of Agra, they alone constitute seven-tenths of the ascetic population. The Rámánandís have very numerous votaries, but they are chiefly from the poorer and inferior classes, with the exception of the Rújaputs and military Brahmans, amongst whom the poetical works of Súr Dás and Tulasi Dás maintain the pre-eminence of Rúma and his Bhakts.
KABÍR PANTHÍS. Amongst the twelve disciples of RÁMÁNAND the most celebrated of all, and one who seems to have produced, directly or indirectly, a greater effect on the state of popular belief than any other, was KABIR: with an unprecedented boldness he assailed the whole system of idolatrous worship, and ridiculed the learning of the Pandits, and doctrines of the sástras, in a
PITÁMBARA DAs, Mahant, Sitá Rám; this is the Mandir of Tulasi Dás. Govind Dás, Mahant, Ráduk KŘISITMA. RAMACILARAŃ, ditto, ditto.
At a late meeting (1820) to elect a Mahant of one of the Vaishnava Maths, in the vicinity of Benares, about 5000 Mendicants of the various branches of the sect attended; of these at least 3000 were Rámávats, the rest were Sri Vaishňavas, Kabir Panthis, and others.
