Dandis one of the Vaishnava (q.v.) sects among the Hiindus, and, a legitimate representative of the fourth Asrama or mendicant life, into which the Hindu is believed to enter after passing the previous stages of, student, househoulder, and hermit. A Brahmin, however, does not require to pass through the previous stages, but is allowed to enter at once into the, fourth: order. The Dandi is distinguished by carrying a, small dand or wand, with several projections from it, and a piece of cloth dyed with red ochre, in which: the Brahminical cord is supposed to be enshrined, I attached to it; he shaves his hair and beard, wears, only a loin-cloth, and subsists upon food obtained ready dressed from the houses of the Brahmins once a day only which he deposits in the small clay pot that he always carries with him. They are generally found in cities, collected, like other mendicants, in myths.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More