Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s3.2.4

c48.s3.2.4

Even in Gujarāt, where the Bhāṭs are numerous, all their sections trace their origin to some part of Rājputāna, and, as a rule, the Bhāṭs in regular employ dress as Rājputs and have Rājput names. In regard to the distribution of the work of the caste, the Brahma-Bhāṭ usually takes upon himself the duties of poet and reciter whilst the others look after the pedigree. In upper India, too, the former do not take up permanent posts, but are engaged for the occasion. In Rājputāna itself, the male Bhāṭ, it is said, undertakes the care of the pedigree of the male line, and his wife that of the female. In these days, the Bhāṭ does not enjoy by any means the same position as of yore, though a good reciter has still a high value, and in Gujarāt, a popular genealogist has considerable influence as counsellor in the households of his clients. Even in the west, however, the Bhāṭ has been obliged to leave his traditional profession to a great extent for trade and cultivation, like the Bhaṭrāzu of the south. In eastern Bengal, where the caste is exotic, it ranks much lower than in upper or western India, though it wears, as elsewhere, the sacred thread. The Bhāṭ there still practises the profession of genealogist, and each member of the fraternity has his circuit which he visits annually.