Nimavat

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Nimavat

This section has been extracted 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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A sect of Vaishnavas.

Notes

This religious sect, one of the four primary divisions of the Vaishnava faith, has always been unpopular in Eastern Bengal, although it was formerly believed1 to be the most numerous of the Vaishnava sects in Bengal, "with the exception of those which may be considered the indigenous offspring of that province."

In Dacca two Akharas are still open; one, situated at Hathi-ghat, is about eighty years old. The first Mahant was one Balaram, a Hindustani Brahman, the fourth in descent from whom is the present Mahant, Har-dev Das, and Adh-Gaur Brahman from Mirat. The other Akhara, in Chaudhari Bazar, was built by one Krishna Moni Bairdgani, about twenty years ago.

This sect has few characteristics beyond its name, and the sectarial mark consisting of a circular black patch between two parallel yellow streaks.

In Dacca there are no Grihasthas, or secular members, and only four Viraktas, or cenobitical. Disciples are not enrolled from among Bengalis, the Kulin Brahman even being rejected; but any Hindustani Brahman, or clean Sudra, is admitted.

The Nimavats regard Mathura and Jaipur as the most sacred places of pilgrimage, and the Bhagavat as the chief religious book. Nagari is generally understood, but Sanskrit is unknown. The chief occupation of the Viraktas is the preparation of "Bhog," or food for the idols, consisting of rice and pulse boiled together (Khichri), which is offered four times daily. After being presented, and prayers said, it is eaten by the Mahant and his disciples. The idols in the Akharas are Jagannath, Madana Gopala, Radha-Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra, the sister of Krishna.