_Bania, Lingayat._--The Lingayat Banias number nearly 8000 persons in
the Central Provinces, being numerous in Wardha, Nagpur and all the
Berar Districts. A brief account of the Lingayat sect has been given
in a separate article. The Lingayat Banias form a separate endogamous
group, and they do not eat or intermarry either with other Banias or
with members of other castes belonging to the Lingayat sect. But they
retain the name and occupation of Banias. They have five subdivisions,
Pancham, Dikshawant, Chilliwant, Takalkar and Kanade. The Pancham or
Panchamsalis are the descendants of the original Brahman converts
to the Lingayat sect. They are the main body of the community
and are initiated by what is known as the eight-fold sacrament or
_eshta-varna_. The Dikshawant, from _diksha_ or initiation, are a
subdivision of the Panchamsalis, who apparently initiate disciples
like the Dikshit Brahmans. The Takalkar are said to take their name
from a forest called Takali, where their first ancestress bore a
child to the god Siva. The Kanade are from Canara. The meaning of
the term Chilliwant is not known; it is said that a member of this
subcaste will throw away his food or water if it is seen by any one
who is not a Lingayat, and they shave the whole head. The above form
endogamous subcastes. The Lingayat Banias also have exogamous groups,
the names of which are mainly titular, of a low-caste type. Instances
of them are Kaode, from _kawa_ a crow, Teli an oil-seller, Thubri a
dwarf, Ubadkar an incendiary, Gudkari a sugar-seller and Dhamankar
from Dhamangaon. They say that the _maths_ or exogamous groups are no
longer regarded, and that marriage is now prohibited between persons
having the same surname. It is stated that if a girl is not married
before adolescence she is finally expelled from the caste, but this
rule has probably become obsolete. The proposal for marriage comes
from either the boy's or girl's party, and sometimes the bridegroom
receives a small sum for his travelling expenses, while at other times
a bride-price is paid. At the wedding, rice coloured red is put in
the hands of the bridegroom and juari coloured yellow in those of the
bride. The bridegroom places the rice on the bride's head and she lays
the juari at his feet. A dish full of water with a golden ring in it is
put between them, and they lay their hands on the ring together under
the water and walk five times round a decorative little marriage-shed
erected inside the real one. A feast is given, and the bridal couple
sit on a little dais and eat out of the same dish. The remarriage of
widows is permitted, but the widow may not marry a man belonging to
the section either of her first husband or of her father. Divorce is
recognised. The Lingayats bury the dead in a sitting posture with
the _lingam_ or emblem of Siva, which has never left the dead man
during his lifetime, clasped in his right hand. Sometimes a platform
is made over the grave with an image of Siva. They do not shave the
head in token of mourning. Their principal festival is Shivratri or
Siva's night, when they offer the leaves of the bel tree and ashes
to the god. A Lingayat must never be without the _lingam_ or phallic
sign of Siva, which is carried slung round the neck in a little
case of silver, copper or brass. If he loses it, he must not eat,
drink nor smoke until he finds it or obtains another. The Lingayats
do not employ Brahmans for any purpose, but are served by their own
priests, the Jangams, [155] who are recruited both by descent and by
initiation from members of the Pancham group. The Lingayat Banias are
practically all immigrants from the Telugu country; they have Telugu
names and speak this language in their homes. They deal in grain,
cloth, groceries and spices.