===========+=======
Districts. |Number.
~~~~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~
Agra | 1
Allahâbâd | 262
Jhânsi | 9
Gorakhpur | 1,056
+~~~~~~~
Total | 1,328
===========+=======
Gusâîn; Gosâîn [492]—(Sanskrit gosvâmin, “lord of cows,” or “one who is
master of his senses or organs”).—A term which is often used in an
uncertain sense. Thus in the Panjâb Mr. Maclagan [493] writes:—
“The term may, roughly speaking, be said to denote an ascetic of any
order, but with a slight implication that the ascetic is a man of some
standing and influence. This, however, is by no means the universal
meaning of the term; it is often used for a Sannyâsi and as often for a
Bairâgi; not unfrequently it seems to denote a separate order different
from either; and often the Brâhmans alone are considered entitled to be
called Gosâins. On the whole, the commonest use of the word appears to
be that which refers to the Bairâgis, who are of high caste, such as
the Brâhmans.”
2. It would seem that in this part of India the term Gusâîn is
generally restricted to the spiritual descendants of the famous Sankar
Achârya. The common account is that Sankar Achârya had four disciples,
Sarûpa Achârya, Padma Achârya, Naratroka Achârya, and Prithi Udra
Achârya. The first, Sarûpa, was sent by the master towards Dwârika, and
he had two disciples, Tîrtha and Asrama. Nanda Brahmachâri was their
teacher. These Gosâîns do not wear sewed clothes, and have garments
dyed in ochre. They will not eat kachchi cooked by any caste except
Brâhmans, but will accept pakki from Banyas, Kâyasths, and the like.
They do not pass more than one night in ordinary villages, but may stay
three nights at regular places of pilgrimage. Their chief sacred places
are Benares, Ajudhya, and Mathura. They do not touch with their hands
any kind of metal, nor do they cook their own food, because they are
prohibited from touching fire. They do not use intoxicating liquors or
tobacco, and do not eat fish or meat of any kind. They carry a begging
bowl (kamandal), wear a rosary of rudrâksha seeds, and smear their
faces with ashes (bhabhût). They specially worship Nârâyana, and admit
none but Brâhman initiates. They bury their dead. A grave is dug with a
niche towards the south, in which an alms bowl is placed. The face of
the corpse is turned towards the niche, and the body is covered with an
ochre-coloured cloth. The grave is filled up with salt and a pot (nâd)
placed at the top, which is covered with an earthen mound (samâdh).
There are no further death ceremonies, except that after a year or two
a feast (bhandâr) is given to the brethren.
3. The second disciple, Padma Achârya, had two disciples, Vana and
Aranya, and Chetan Brahmachâri was their teacher. Their mode of life is
like that of the Tîrtha and Asrama, but some of them have some property
in Gonda and Bahrâich, which was granted to them by one of the Mughal
Emperors.
4. Naratroka had three disciples, Parvata, Giri, and Sâgara, and their
teacher was Sarûpa Brahmachâri. The Barua, who are found in the
Rohilkhand Districts, are said to be connected with these.
5. Prithi Udra Achârya is said to have had three disciples, Ahoni,
Bhârati, and Giri.
6. These ten sections, which are generally given as Tîratha, Asrama,
Vana, Aranya, Sârasvati, Puri, Bhârati, Giri, Parvata, and Sâgara,
constitute what is known as the Dasnâmi Gusâîns. The last Census
classes under the head Gusâîn the Brindabani, Dasnâmi, Gauriya,
Gokulastha, Niranjani, Râdhavallabhi, which have been separately
discussed.
7. Gusâîns are both ascetics and family men; the former are generally
known as Kutichâr, Asandhâri, or Mathdhâri, and the latter Grihastha.
The head of the ascetic branch is called a Mahant, and he is generally
appointed by the votes of his disciples (Chela). [494]