Acharji

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This article is an extract from

THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. By H.H. RISLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Ethnographic Glossary. CALCUTTA: Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. .

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Acharji

The teacher," iron¬ical designation of a sub-caste of Brahmans in Bengal; also known as Lagan-Kcharji, Ganak, Daivajna, and in Purtieah as Upadhyaya. The members of this sub-caste prepare and decipher horosoopes, draw up almanaos, tell fortunes by palmistry and by astrological methods, draw pictures of Hindu deities, make idols, manufacture sola or pith, and decorate houses by painting rough designs of flowers and animals on the walls. They also attend at annapraduan and upanayan ceremonies of the higher castes. According to some authorities they rank socially below the Agradani .