RAMA-LILA. SANSK. A dramatic epitome of the adventures of Rama. They are performed publicly in the month Aswin, and in some places with great splendour.—W.
a religious reformer of the Vaislinava sect,. who is considered by some to have been an immediate disciple of Rainanuja, by others the fifth in descent from that religious teacher, and to have lived about the middle or end of the 14th (A.D. 1350) or beginning of the 15th century. He is said to have seceded from the Ramanuja sect, because of an accusation of laxity in their custom of taking meals. His residence was at Benares, at the Pancha Ganga Ghat, where a mat'h or monastery of his followers is said to have existed. The special object of their worship is Vishnu, in his incarnation as Rama Chandra and his consort Sita, either singly or jointly ; but other forms of Vishnu are worshipped by them, and the religious mendicants of the sect consider all forms of adoration super fluous, except incessantly invoking the names Krishna and Rama. He instituted no niee observ ances, he adinittes(1 all classes Of people as his disciples, and he declared that the true votary WM raised above mere social forms, and became free or liberated. Ile abolished the distinction
of caste among the religious orders, and taught that a Viragi who abstains front the ties of nature and society, shakes off at the same time all personal distinctions. The initiatory formula is Sri-Rama, blessed Rama. The sectarian mark on the forehead is almost the same as that of the Ramanuja sect. There are various subdivisions of this sect, but all friendly with each other and with the Ramanuja. Most of the Vaishnava sectarians of Northern India follow the teachings Rainananda ; they are nutnerous in Gangetic India, and direct their worship to Rama Chandra and Sita. He was the first to admit low caste men as his disciples, amongst whom are mentioned Kabir, a weaver ; Asanand ; Rai Das, the Chamar ; Sena, a barber ; Dhunna, Jat ; Pipa, a Rajput ; and the Itamawat poets, Sur Das and Tulsi Das. The rani of Chet,ori Jhali was a follower.—Garrett; OfaM Census Report, p. 116 ; Cal. Rev. No. 109.