Like the weaver, the Darzi is of a somewhat religious turn of mind,
probably on account of his sedentary calling which gives him plenty
of time for reflection. Many of them belong to the Namdeo sect,
originated by a Chhipa or dyer, Namdeo Sadhu. Namdeo is said to have
been a contemporary of Kabir and to have flourished in the twelfth
or thirteenth century. He was a great worshipper of the god Vithoba
of Pandharpur and is considered by the Marathas to be their oldest
writer, being the author of many Abhangs, or sacred hymns. [518] He
preached the unity of God, recognising apparently Vithoba or Vishnu
as the one deity, and the uselessness of ceremonial. His followers
are mainly Dhobis and Chhipas, the two principal castes from whom
the Darzis have originated. [519] Namdeo's sect was thus apparently a
protest on the part of the Chhipas and Dhobis against their inferior
position in the caste system and the tyranny of the Brahmans, and
resembled the spiritual revolt of the weavers under Kabir and of the
Chamars under Ghasi Das and Jagjiwan Das.
In Berar it is stated [520] that "the Simpi caste has twelve and a
half divisions; of these the chief are known as the Jain, Marathi
and Telugu Simpis. The Jain Simpis claim the hero Riminath as a
caste-fellow, while the Marathas are often Lingayats and the Telugu
division generally Vaishnavas." Before beginning work in the morning
the Darzi bows to his scissors or needle and prays to them for his
livelihood for that day.
The Darzi's occupation, Mr. Crooke remarks, is a poor one and held
rather in contempt. The village proverb runs, '_Darzi ka put jab tak
jita tab tak sita_,' 'The tailor's boy will do nothing but sew all his
life long.' Another somewhat more complimentary saying is, '_Tanak si
suiya tak tak kare aur lakh taka ko banj kare_,' or 'The tiny needle
goes _tuk tuk_, and makes merchandise worth a lakh of rupees.' The
Hindustani version of both proverbs is obviously intended to give the
sound of a needle passing through cloth, and it is possible that our
word 'tuck' has the same origin.