holding that the deity is not void of form or quality; it regards him as "being endowed with all good qualities and a two-fold form; the supreme spirit Paramātma, or cause, and the gross one, the effect, the Universe or matter." (Wilson.)

It will be seen further on that it was necessary to make this digression on Hindu doctrines, as a preliminary to the main topic upon which we must now enter.

The sacred marks that most intrude themselves upon one's notice, are those worn upon the forehead, and these are ordinarily of two kinds; the trident shaped mark called Urdhva pundram or upright pundram, which is universally worn by the votaries of Vishnu, and the three horizontal lines drawn across the forehead which are called Tiryak pundram or horizontal pundram, worn by the worshippers of Siva.

Besides these marks on the forehead some are also worn on various parts of the body, the number differing according to caste; the Brahmins having no less than twelve, viz. one on each arm and shoulder, one on the front and one on the back of the neck, one on the breast, and one on the middle of the back, three on different parts of the stomach, and the one on the forehead; a thirteenth is sometimes worn on the crown of the head. Others than Brahmins should not, theoretically, have so many marks, it being laid down that the Kshatriyas should have only four; the Vaisyas two, and the Sudras one, the one on the forehead; but practically many others besides Brahmins, if they wish to be very religious, wear these marks on most of the parts mentioned; but this is said, by the powers that be in such matters, to have no religious effect or value.

The forehead mark is, however, the chief and most prominent one. That of the worshippers of Vishnu is most unmistakable, and when put on by the very orthodox in extra broad stripes, has a most ferocious effect. The ordinary Vaishnava uses a white clay called tirumani which is found in various parts of the country and is sold, made up into sticks or lumps, at a very cheap rate in the ordinary bazaars. In the case of the

Madhvas, however, of whom particular mention will be made further on, the clay used in making the marks is of a yellowish colour, and is called Gopichandanam, which, to be of the purest kind, should be brought from Dwaraka in Guzerat. Practically, however, it is obtained wherever it can be found. The marks are put on by the ordinary Vaishnavas in this manner; the clay is rubbed in the palm of the left hand with a little water, and then with a finger of the right hand, or with a strip of metal kept for the purpose, the moistened clay is taken and a broad line drawn across from the centre of one eyebrow to that of the other; then from the centre, or the outer end of each eyebrow, a perpendicular streak is drawn right up the forehead. This mark is said to represent the foot of Vishnu (Vishnu Pādam). In the centre of the two perpendicular lines, and in a line with the nose, a third, but narrower, perpendicular streak is drawn, of a red or yellow colour; the colour is chosen red or yellow according to fancy, but yellow is said to be the most orthodox. This central mark is in honour of Lakshmi the wife of Vishnu, and is called Srichurnam, the whole forming a trident. The marks on the other parts of the body are also made with three perpendicular streaks, two white and one red or yellow, but they are not so carefully made as those on the forehead, which are often drawn in quite an artistic manner, and evidently done with great care. As a rule these body marks are merely a broad smear of white with a coloured dab in the middle, though the one on the chest is perhaps sometimes seen to be more carefully made.

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All the wearers of this trident mark are worshippers of Vishnu, but they may be either worshippers of that deity alone, as the Rāmānujas, or they may votaries of Vishnu and at the same time pay honour to Siva. The followers of Rāmānuja are called amongst the Telugus Acharyas and amongst the Tamils they are called Iyengars. Some of the Smartha sect, that is those who professedly worship Siva in particular, and yet pay reverence to Vishnu, also wear the trident marks of Vishnu, instead of the Siva

marks which is usually worn by the Smarthas. The Rāmānujas, which sect was founded in the 12th century by Ramānujāchārya, hold the Visishtādvaita doctrine, and they are very hostile to the worshippers of Siva, who are of the Advaita School. They carry their love for their sacred mark to an extraordinary length. They imprint their trident on the portals of their doors, on the walls of their houses, nay, on their very household utensils, and on their carts and boats and books, &c. In the same way they allow their dislike for the Saivas to run to extremes. If they come across a stone in a mouthful of rice, a very unpleasant thing, as can be easily imagined, they call it the Lingam (the emblem of Siva) and say "Let us bite well, we have at least killed one wretched Lingam." It is also a saying that, even if pursued by a tiger, a Ramanuja would not, even to save himself, enter into a Siva temple!

It may be interesting to mention here that the Vaishnavas are divided into two great sects, the Vadagalais and the Tengalais, the doctrines of which differ very materially from each other. The members of these sects may be distinguished by the shape of the mark worn. The Tengalais carry the white mark some way down the nose, whilst the Vadagalais have it without this central prolongation.

Whilst preparing the clay to daub on the marks, the devout are supposed to recite several mantrams which it may be interesting to quote at length.

मृत्तिके हन मे पापं

यन्मया दुष्कृतं कृतं ।
मृत्तिके ब्रह्मदत्तासि
काश्यपेनाभिमंत्रिता ||

O Earth! do thou destroy my sin,
Whatever sin has been committed by me.

O Earth! thou gift of Brahma,

Thou hast been purified with mantrams by Kasyapa
(a certain Sage.)

मृत्तिके देहि मे पुष्टि व सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितं । त्वया हतेन पापेन

गछामि परमां गतिं ॥

O Earth ! bestow on me physical strength,
In thee are all things comprised,

When my sin is driven out by thee
I attain unto heaven.

श्वेतमृद्देवि पापप्नि
विष्णुदे हसमुद्भवे ।
चक्रांकिते नमस्तेऽस्तु
धारणान्मुक्तिदाभव ||

Oh white clay goddess! destroyer of sin,

Sprung from the body of Vishnu,

And symbolized by the Chakram, I adore thee,
Through my wearing thee do thou bestow heaven.

These three mantrams should be said by all worshippers of Vishnu, that is by all those who wear the trident; but only the very devout do say them. Many content themselves with saying only the first, others again will repeat only the first line of the first man

tram:

Oh Earth ; do thou destroy my sin.

Probably a very large number say nothing at all. These simply put on the marks for appearance sake, as a matter of form; or perhaps with the idea that the mere marks themselves will have some religious effect upon their soul, for the Hindu is extremely superstitious.

The white marks having been daubed on the various parts of the body before indicated, the red

or yellow pigment (Srichurnam) is taken and put on whilst the following mantram is repeated:

श्रीचूर्णं श्रीकरं दिव्यं

श्रियश्चांगसमुद्भवं ।
पुंडद्वयस्य मध्ये तु

धार्यं मोक्षार्थिभिर्नरैः ॥

Srichurnam is wealth giving, is excellent,
Generated from the body of Lakshmi;
And between the two pundrams

Should be worn by those who desire heaven.

Besides the wearers of this trident, there are other worshippers of Vishnu who wear a different mark. They are called Madhvas, and they hold the Dvaita doctrine (the dual order of things); indeed they are the true Dvaitas, and they take their origin from the sage Madhvacharya who taught in the 13th century. These worship Vishnu, but they also hold Siva in honour. Their forehead mark is a straight black line drawn from the nose to the roots of the hair, and passing through a red round mark made with a mixture of turmeric and lime. The black line is made with charcoal, which, to be pure, should be taken from the fire before the god Vishnu. This black line is called Angāram, from the charcoal with which it is made. In some parts there are those who also put on the two upright white facial marks with Gōpichandanam, only somewhat narrow; others again are said to make these lines in red. Usually however the forehead is only adorned with the upright black line and red spot.

The Madhvas also impress on the various parts of the body, and on the forehead and temples, symbols of Vishnu, made with copper stamps, dipped in moistened Gopichandanam, to more clearly represent what the ordinary marks are supposed to signify. These are of five kinds, the conch (sankha), the wheel