d with the usual rites. As in the case
of the Ajudhiabasi Banias, the tribal deity of the Audhias is the
goddess Devi. [141]

Bania, Asathi

_Bania, Asathi._--This subcaste numbers about 2500 persons in the
Central Provinces, belonging principally to the Damoh and Jubbulpore
Districts. They say that their original home was the Tikamgarh State
in Bundelkhand. They do not rank very high, and are sometimes said
to be the descendants of an Ahir who became a Bania. The great bulk
are Hindus and a small minority Jains. It is told of the Asathis that
they first bury their dead, in accordance presumably with a former
practice, and then exhume and burn the bodies; and there is a saying--

Ardha jale, ardha gare
Jinka nam Asathi pare,

or, 'He who is an Asathi is half buried and half burnt.' But this
practice, if it ever really existed, has now been abandoned.

Bania, Charnagri

_Bania, Charnagri, Channagri, Samaiya._--The Charnagris are a small
Jain subcaste which numbered about 2500 persons in 1911, residing
principally in the Damoh and Chhindwara Districts. They are the
followers of one Taran Swami, who is said to have lived about five
centuries ago. He preached against the worship of the images of the
Jain Tirthakars, and said that this should be abandoned and only
the sacred books be revered. The chief sacred place of the sect
is Malhargarh in Gwalior State; here the tomb of their prophet is
situated and there is also a large temple in which the Jain scriptures
are enshrined. In the month of Phagun (February) a fair is held here,
and Charnagris dance in the temples, holding lighted lamps in their
hands. Nowadays the Charnagris also visit the ordinary Jain temples
when their own are not available. They are practically all derived from
Parwar Banias, and formerly would sometimes give their daughters to
Parwars in marriage, but this practice is said to have stopped. Like
other Bania subcastes, they are divided into Bisa and Dasa, or twenty
and ten sections, the Dasa being of irregular descent. Intermarriage
between the two sections occasionally occurs, and the Dasa will take
food from the Bisa section, but the latter do not reciprocate except
at caste feasts.

Bania, Dhusar

_Bania, Dhusar, Bhargava Dhusar._--The origin of this group is much
disputed. They are usually classed as a subcaste of Bania, but claim
to be Brahmans. They take their name from a hill called