Acharj

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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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Acharj

Achari, Achrya, a religious teacher; properly, the Brahman who instruots the religious student of the two next castes-the Kshatriya and the Vaisya-as well as the Brahmans, in the Vedas. In modern use it is applied to any religious instruotor, or to any Brahman or religious mendioant professing to be qualified to give spiritual instruotion or to supervise and direot religious ceremonies. The term has thus oome to be a title or family name of high-annap1'flsan and upanayan ceremonies of the higher castes. According to some authorities they rank socially below the Agradani Brahmans, from whom they will receive alms. On the other hand, Patit or Sudra Brah¬mans will eat with the Kcharji, but not with the Agradani.