Brahmans have also sectarian divisions according to the different
Vedas, which they especially study. It is held that the ancient Rishis
or saints, like the Jewish patriarchs, lived far beyond the ordinary
span of existence, and hence had time to learn all the Vedas and
their commentaries. But this was impossible for their shorter-lived
descendants, and hence each Veda has been divided into a number of
Shakhas or branches, and the ordinary Brahman only learns one Shakha of
one Veda. Most Brahmans of the Central Provinces are either Rigvedis
or Yajurvedis, and these commonly marry only followers of their own
Veda, thus forming a sort of cross set of endogamous divisions. The
restriction on marriage may also extend to the Shakha, so that a
man can only marry in a family of the same Shakha as himself. This
applies in the Central Provinces mainly to the Yajurvedis, who have
three well-known Shakhas or branches called Kannava, Apastambha and
Madhyandina. These are derived from the Shukla or White Yajurveda,
which can be understood, while the Black Yajurveda is obscure and
unintelligible. The Rigvedis and Yajurvedis have some differences in
their methods of recitation. The Rigvedis are said to move the head
up and down when they recite and not to use the hands; while the
Yajurvedis swing the hands and body from side to side. It is said
that a Madhyandina cannot say his prayers nor take his food before
midday, and hence the name, which means half the day. These points
of distinction are given as stated by the local Brahmans, and it is
not known whether they would be endorsed by the Pandits. The Maratha
Brahmans of the Central Provinces are usually Rigvedis and the Kanaujia
Brahmans Yajurvedis. Followers of the other two Vedas are practically
not found. Among Kanaujia Brahmans it is also customary to ask the
head of a family with which a marriage is proposed whether he ties
a knot in the right or left half of his Shikha or scalp-lock during
his prayers and whether he washes his right or left foot first in
the performance of a religious ceremony.