JUDGMENT : Stanley, C.J.:— The litigation which has given rise to this appeal concerns the property which belonged to three brothers, namely, Dalpat Gir, Ganpat Gir and Dhanpat Gir, the sons of one Ram Gir. Dhanpat Gir died about the year 1895, leaving his brothers him surviving. Dalpat Gir died in the month of January 1902, leaving a widow, Musammat Baldevi. On the 26th of May, 1902, Ganpat Gir died, leaving the defendant Musammat Ram Rakkhi, who is said to have been a mistress and a son by her, namely, the defendant Chhajju Gir. The parties belong to the Goshain community, and the plaintiff's case is that the property of a member of that community devolves upon his chela or disciple; and that according to custom the widow of a deceased Goshain in case her husband has no disciple at the time of his death, may nominate a disciple with the authority of the members of the community and that the disciple so nominated succeeds to the property of her husband; that the plaintiff was nominated by Musammat Baldevi with the consent of the community and so became what we may term a posthumous pupil of Dalpat Gir, and as such, entitled to his property. It is not stated in the plaint how the disputed property was acquired. It is merely alleged that it was first owned by Mahant Ram Gir and on his death devolved upon Dalpat Gir, Ganpat Gir and Dhanpat Gir. It has been found by the Court below that the property is not endowed property and that Dalpat Gir, Ganpat Gir and Dhanpat Gir held their shares of it separately. These findings are not challenged. The defendant-appellant in his grounds of appeal impeached the finding that the property was not endowed property but this ground was abandoned before us. 2. The custom upon which the plaintiff relies is thus stated in the plaint. It is first alleged that Dalpat Gir at the time of his death authorised his widow to make a disciple in his name and then it is alleged that “There has been a practice and custom in the Goshain community that on the death of a person the members of the community cause a disciple to be made in the name of the deceased and make him occupy his place. Accordingly, Musam-mat Baldevi, in accordance with the permission of Dalpat Gir and also the practice in the Goshain community, assembled the members of the community, made the plaintiff a disciple in the name of Dalpat Gir deceased, at her house on the 6th of June, 1902, and performed all the necessary rights.” It is further alleged in the plaint that “it is also necessary for a newly made disciple wishing to be the representative and successor of a deceased person that he should be duly declared representative and successor by the members of the community after a feast has been given. Accordingly, after a feast had been given on the 12th October, 1902, the members of the community declared the plaintiff a Mahant to take the place and be the representative of Dalpat Gir, deceased, and therefore the plaintiff is the lawful owner of his (Dalpat Gir's) estate.” We may here state that Dalpat Gir and Ganpat Gir succeeded to the share of the estate of Dhanpat Gir upon his death. There is no dispute as to this. The plaintiff claims to be entitled not merely to the share of Dalpat Gir but also to the share of Ganpat Gir, but we are at a loss to understand how he can establish any right to this share. 3. The defendant, Chhajju Gir and his mother, denied the existence of the custom. Chhajju Gir claims to be entitled to the property of Ganpat Gir as his disciple and he also claims to be entitled to it under the will of Ganpat Gir, dated the 20th of February, 1902. But before us he did not so much rest his case on the merits of his own title as on the weakness of the plaintiff-respondent's case. 4. The parties belong to the order of Sannyasis known as Giris. That order with other was, we are told by Mr. Ghose in his work on Hindu Law, founded by the great Hindu Philosopher Sankara in the eighth century A.D. Originally the members of this order were supposed to renounce the world and were strictly ascetic. The wealth of the ascetic consisted of his stick, his begging bowl and the like, and was invaluable to his disciples. Ghose in his work on Hindu Law, founded by the great Hindu Philosopher Sankara in the eighth century A.D. Originally the members of this order were supposed to renounce the world and were strictly ascetic. The wealth of the ascetic consisted of his stick, his begging bowl and the like, and was invaluable to his disciples. As Gautama ordained “an ascetic shall have no hoard.” In the course of time these bodies acquired wealth and so far from practising habits of stern austerity, took to habits of luxury and worldliness. A section of them married and became girhasts (house-holders) while the remainder observed celibacy and are known as Nihangs. Ram Gir was a girhast (or house-holder) and his sons likewise. They had not therefore absolutely renounced the world and were not ascetic in the strict sense of the word. This must be borne in mind in dealing with the questions which we have to determine. 5. The special rules as to the devolution of the property of an” ascetic, laid down in the Yajnavalkya (ii, 137), Mitakshara ii, 8) Daya Bhaga (xi, 6, ss. 35 and 36), namely, “the heirs of a hermit, of an ascetic, and of a professed student, are in their order the preceptor, the virtuous pupil and spiritual brother and associate in holiness,” cannot be strictly applied in this case. Mr. Mayne says that a case coming under these special rules seldom occurs, that “when a hermit has any property which is not of secular origin, he generally holds it as the head of some math or religious endowment and succession to such property is regulated by the special custom of the foundation.” He then observes “No one can come under the above heads for the purpose of introducing a new rule of inheritance, unless he has absolutely retired from all earthly interests, and, in fact, become dead to the world. In such, a case all property then vested in him passes to his legal heirs, who succeed to it at once. If his retirement is of a less complete character, the mere fact that he has assumed a religious title, and has even entered into a monastery, will not divest him of his property, or prevent his secular heirs from succeeding to any secular property which may have remained in his possession “. (See VI edition, p. 778). Mr. If his retirement is of a less complete character, the mere fact that he has assumed a religious title, and has even entered into a monastery, will not divest him of his property, or prevent his secular heirs from succeeding to any secular property which may have remained in his possession “. (See VI edition, p. 778). Mr. Ghose in the second edition of his valuable work at page 781 says as to this question.” The property mentioned in Yajnavalkya as the Mitakshara and the Apararka say is the wealth of the hermit, invaluable to his disciples, i.e., his stick, his begging bowl and the like. Lands and money, the Sannyasi cannot hold in his own right But by the law of the land he is allowed to hold property in the same way as secular persons, and in such cases his secular heirs ought to take his property. In his comment upon a decision of a Bench of the Calcutta High Court in the case of the Cotteetor of Daem v. Jagat Chander Goswami, [1901] I.L.R., 28 Cal., 608., holding that the perceptor of a deceased Bairagi was entitled to Letters of Administration of his estate, he observes at page 788 “with all respect to the learned Judges it should be observed that according to Hindu Law the ordinary rule of succession should apply to the case of that strange individual the married ascetic. Indeed according to ancient law ascetics who have resumed worldly ways are slaves of the king and their property in strictness belongs to him.” 6. It was contended in this suit on behalf of the appellant that a chela or disciple does not inherit the personal property of a girhast (or house-holder) Goshain, and further that the plaintiff-respondent is not a disciple of Dalpat Gir. The learned Subordinate Judge held that though Ganpat Gir, Dalpat Gir and Dhanpat Gir held their shares separately and there was nothing to show that the property was endowed property, yet the sect of the Goshains to which they belonged is a semi-religious one, and that “the same is the nature of their properties” that is we take it that the property in dispute though not endowed property is semi-religious property whatever this means. He also held that the evidence adduced on behalf of the plaintiff established a custom among Goshains whereby a chela “is shaved in the name of a deceased Mahant at the instance of his wife by the Panches (elders), and if such chela performs the ceremony of Bhandara and is installed on the gaddi of the deceased by the elders, he becomes the representative of the deceased with respect to his property.” He further found that the plaintiff-respondent was duly installed on the gaddi of Dalpat Gir by the elders of the sect in accordance with custom, and performed the ceremony of Bhandara, and is therefore the legal representative of Dalpat Gir. No distinction, it will be noticed, is here drawn between a Goshain who is a Nihang or who is possessed of a math and Goshain who is a house-holder and owns no endowed property. 7. There are two questions then for our determination. The first, whether or not the plaintiff-respondent can be regarded as in any sense a chela or disciple of Dalpat Gir, and the second, whether or not a binding custom has been established whereby the personal property of a deceased girhast or (house-holder) Goshain passes to his chela and not to his secular heirs. 8. First then let us see what a chela or disciple according to Hindu notions is. In the case of Govind Das v. Ram Sahai Jamadar, to be found reported in the Viavastha Darpana by Shama Churn Sarkar, Vol, I. p. 299, Fulton's Reports, Vol. I, p. 217., the plaintiff alleged that he was the chela or disciple and legal representative in estate according to the laws and usage of Hindus, of one Makhan Das, deceased, a Hindu Bairagi (or religious devotee), and claimed to be entitled to sue as such for recovery of the property of the deceased. A defence was filed to the effect that a chela of a Hindu Bairagi does not as such succeed to the property of such a Bairagi in the event ofe intestacy. A defence was filed to the effect that a chela of a Hindu Bairagi does not as such succeed to the property of such a Bairagi in the event ofe intestacy. On behalf of the defendant it was contended that the three religious orders into which the twice born classes may enter are those of the Vanaprastha hermit), the Sannyasi or Joti, (the ascetic) and the Brahmachari (religious student) and reference was made to the passage of the Yajnavalkya which lays down that the wealth of a Vanaprastha is inherited by his Dharma bhratreka-tirthana or holy brother of the same hermitage, that of a Joti by his Satshishya (virtuous approved pupil), and that of a Brahmachari by his Acharjya (spiritual guide). It was contended that assuming the Bairagi to be a sufficient description of the Joti of Yajnavalkya his goods are not inherited by his chela or pupil in that capacity but by his Satshishya (virtuous approved pupil). Then it was pointed out that a chela after he has served the Joti for a year may be made a Sat-shishya if the Joti thinks him worthy of the honour, that there is a period of servitude for 12 months necessary before the aspirant pupil can become a Satshishya or partake of its privileges, and that the pupil who has not become a Sat-shishya can never inherit it. It was held that the plaintiff failed to show his right to sue. An extract from a letter which the Editor of the Reports had received from Baba Prosonno Coomar Thakur stated to be a gentleman of well-known learning and repute at the time, is appended to the Report from which it appears that no chela of a deceased ascetic can inherit his property unless he can prove himself to be a siso (that is, we understand a Satshishya). The extract is as follows:— “My conclusion, therefore, is that a chela or servant may, if qualified, be admitted as siso, but the mere denomination of chela does not necessarily imply the meaning of siso. The Hindu Law recognises the right of inheritance of the latter and consequently no chela of a deceased ascetic can inherit his property unless the former can prove himself his siso too. The Hindu Law recognises the right of inheritance of the latter and consequently no chela of a deceased ascetic can inherit his property unless the former can prove himself his siso too. This is a known distinction which I am allowed to draw between two phrases and their respective applicability from the concurrent authority of the Shashtras and the usages and customs of the country”. We further find appended to the report an extract from the work called Tuntur Shar by Krishna Nanda, which describes the respective qualities which should form the character of a spiritual guide and his religious pupil, and later on the following passage appears:— “A year's residence and association with each other is required to form the connection of the spiritual guide and the pupil. It is also enjoined in the Sar-Sungraho that a good spiritual guide should put his dependent pupil to a year's probation. A knowledge of the mysterious and excellent Shastras should not be imparted to every one without distinction, it should be imparted to a well-behaved pupil after a year's residence with him.” We refer to this case merely for the purpose of showing what are the qualifications of a chela. In the case of Khuggender Narain Ohowdhry v. Sharupgir Oghorenath, [1878] I.L.R., 4 Cal., 543., the principle of succession upon which one member of an order of ascetics succeeds to another was laid down as being based entirely upon fellowship and personal association with the ascetic, and it was said that a stranger, though of the same order of ascetics is excluded. It thus appears that a person who has had no association with a spiritual guide cannot except by a fiction be his chela. A posthumous chela is a contradiction in terms. 9. The authority upon which Mr. Chowdhry on behalf of the respondent has strongly relied for the proposition that a posthumous disciple may be appointed to a deceased ascetic is to be found in West and Buhler's Hindu Law, Vol. I, p. 565. There in answer to the question whether a Goshain either of the sect Pari Giri or Bharathi acquired a Vatari like that of a Patil or Kulkami, can it descend to his or his wife's disciple, the reply is “Among the Goshaim of the above mentioned sects, a disciple is as good an heir as a son among other people. There in answer to the question whether a Goshain either of the sect Pari Giri or Bharathi acquired a Vatari like that of a Patil or Kulkami, can it descend to his or his wife's disciple, the reply is “Among the Goshaim of the above mentioned sects, a disciple is as good an heir as a son among other people. If a disciple was not nominated by the male Goshain, his wife may nominate one to succeed to her estate in the same manner as a widow among other classes is allowed to adopt a son. No objection seems to exist to such a proceeding”. The learned Pandits give as the authority for this answer the Vyavahara Mayukhapara, 142, 1-4. A reference to this work will show that it does not bear out the alleged practice. The paragraph referred to contains the extract from Yajnavalkya, already quoted stating the rule prevailing as regards the estates of ascetics, namely, “the heirs of a hermit, of an ascetic, and of a student, are in their order the preceptor, the virtuous pupil and the spiritual brother and associate in holiness”. Moreover, the answer would seem to pre-suppose that the deceased Goshain for whom his wife may nominate a chela to succeed him had disciples, and that it was one of these disciples whom she might nominate as his successor. It does not, at least not clearly, support the suggestion that if a Goshain had no disciple during his life-time his wife could elect one after his death. 10. Let us see now on what evidence the novel custom which has been set up in this case is sought to be supported. Mahant Jkandu Nath, who is a sannyasi, purported to give an account of the nomination and election of the plaintiff as a Mahant after the death of Dalpat Gir though he did not attend the meeting at which he was elected. He was asked whether any woman had ever made a disciple in the way in which the plaintiff Diwan Gir was made a disciple of Dalpat Gir, and his answer was in the first instance in the negative, and then he stated that Ram Saran Gir's wife made Raniratan Gir a disciple after the death of her husband or that she caused the members of her brotherhood to make him a disciple. In answer to the further question whether Ram Gir was the holder of a math his reply was that he could not be called the holder of a math in as much as Mahants who are girahsts, are not holders of a math. He also stated that at the time of his death, Ram Gir was not a Nihang Mahant and that when a Mahant is not Nihang, his sons become his heirs; and he followed this up by saying that when a Mahant is not a Nihang, that is, is a house-holder or girahst, his wife becomes his heir on his death. The evidence of this witness does not to any appreciable extent support the alleged custom. In answer to a question by the Court he stated that “if a girahst Mahant should not give permission to his wife as to the making of a disciple, his wife can on his death make a disciple in his name even without such permission. After the death of a house-holder Mahant his widow has the same power with regard to the making of a disciple as he himself. As regards this power of making a disciple there is no difference between a Mahant and his widow”. What authority the witness had for this statement we are not informed. He is a comparatively young man being only 34 years of age and is not shown to have any special knowledge of the rules of the Goshain community. 11. Another witness, Gajraj Bharti, also a Goshain, deposed that Diwan Gir was made a disciple of Dalpat Gir 4 or 5 months after the death of Dalpat Gir. The Panch, he said, were called by Musammat Baldevi to her house when she told them that she wished to have Diwan Gir made a disciple in the name of her husband and that the Punch agreed to carry out her wish and thereupon the necessary ceremony of installation was performed. He mentioned 4 or 5 cases in which in recent years disciples of deceased Godwins had been nominated by their wives. A Panchayatnama was drawn up and signed by this and other witnesses testifying to the election and installation of Diwan Gir as the disciple of Mahant Dalpat Gir. We shall refer to this document more particularly later on. It was produced by this witness. A Panchayatnama was drawn up and signed by this and other witnesses testifying to the election and installation of Diwan Gir as the disciple of Mahant Dalpat Gir. We shall refer to this document more particularly later on. It was produced by this witness. Cross-examined as to it the witness used these significant words:— “People said females have caused disciples to be made, but it is invalid. They tried to find out a precedent. I also did the same”. It appears, therefore, that the partisans of the plaintiff found it necessary to search for a precedent for such an appointment as chela as that of the plaintiff. This witness is the brother of Kashi Bharthi whose wife and Mussammat Baldevi are sisters. Of the instances which he gave of the making of disciples by the widow of a deceased Goshain, two were disciples of Kashi Nath who were made disciples by his wife. We may point out that the election of the plaintiff Diwan as a disciple of Dalpat Gir led to disturbances which resulted in the bringing of criminal proceedings by Chhajju Gir against this witness and others. 12. The next witness to whom we would refer is Ghanshiam Puri, also a Goshain, resident at Hardwar. In answer to the question “should any one die leaving a widow among your community, what will be her right as to the making of a disciple.” It will be noted that the question was not directed to the case of a girahst Goshain but to the Goshain community generally. His reply was “A disciple is made. He is made in this way. The members of the brotherhood are invited. When they come to the place they ask the woman “Why have you invited us.” The woman says “make a disciple in the name of my husband.” The members order a man, a Mahant, “you should make a disciple, cut the tuft of his hairs.” “Disciples made in this way are to be found in my community.” Then he mentioned the names of 5 persons who were made disciples in this way and stated that they had got the properties of their spiritual guides. He further stated that sons of a Goshain have no right to his property without their having been made disciples, and that if a Goshain left a wife and a son who had not been made a disciple, his property devolved upon the wife and not upon the son. He was asked his means of knowledge of this rule and stated that he heard it from his father and spiritual guide. It was further elicited from this witness that there are about 17 or 18 families of Goshains at Hardwar and that all of them are girahsts. He further deposes that a wife can make a disciple, without obtaining permission from her husband to do so, and that the children of a kept woman have the same right as those of a wedded wife. 13. Puran Gir and Sheoraj Gir gave evidence to the same effect. Sheoraj Gir admitted that his knowledge on the subject was derived from his having seen the initiation as disciples of Ratan Gir, Khushal Bharti and Bhajjan Gir, and also from hearing of it from the Goshains. He is a man of 34 years of age and is one of the parties against whom the complaint was lodged in the Criminal Court by Chhajju Gir in connection with the initiation of the plaintiff Diwan Gir. 14. Ganesh Gir, another witness, also testified to the alleged custom and to the initiation of the plaintiff Diwan Gir. He stated that Bishnu of his village Rahmatpur had two disciples, initiated on the death of her husband. He deposed, however, that these disciples had left the village and that the property which belonged to the deceased Goshain had been sold by auction. 15. Hoshiar Gir, a resident of Daulatpur and a Goshain, deposed that he was initiated as a disciple of Harnand Gir by Harnand Gir's wife 7 or 8 years previously to the village of Daulatpur. In cross examination it was elicited that Harnand Gir had no son and that the witness and Ganpat Gir were his nephews and that both the witness and Ganpat Gir inherited the property of Harnand Gir. Further he deposed that there was a will in his favour It was not therefore out of the usual course that he and his brother should inherit the property of Harnand Gir. 16. Further he deposed that there was a will in his favour It was not therefore out of the usual course that he and his brother should inherit the property of Harnand Gir. 16. Several other witnesses were examined but their evidence does not put the case further. It simply shows that there have been in the last 20 years several instances in which the widows of deceased Goshains nominated disciples, and that the disciples so nominated were recognised as the disciples of their deceased husbands. What the property was which they inherited or how it was acquired or whether it was endowed property or not the evidence does not show. 17. It is a significant fact that on the initiation of the plaintiff, which as we have said was followed by disturbances leading to criminal proceedings, a panohagatnama was executed to testify to the election of the plaintiff as a disciple of Dalpat Gir. This document we find was signed by all the witnesses, without exception, who have supported the plaintiff's case as regards the alleged custom. It is dated the 12th of October, 1902, and recites the death of Dalpat Gir on the 16th of January, 1902, without leaving any disciple, and that the alleged practice among the Goshain community of Hardwar and the neighbourhood that on the death of a Mahant some person approved of by the community and the widow of the deceased should be nominated as a disciple. Then follows a declaration that on the 6th of June, 1902, the members of the Goshain community assembled at the house of Mahant Dalpat Gir with the consent of his widow, Musammat Baldevi, made the plaintiff Diwan Gir who is stated to be a relation of Dalpat Gir and whom Dalpat Gir intended to make his disciple in his lifetime a disciple in the name of Mahant Dalpat Gir. The document certifies that the real and actual disciple of Dalpat Gir is Diwan Gir, nominated and appointed lawfully according to law and the custom of the Goshain community, all the ceremonies essential and requisite for this appointment having been fully observed. 18. Now if the alleged custom was a recognised custom, it is not apparent what the necessity was for the preparation and signing of this document. 18. Now if the alleged custom was a recognised custom, it is not apparent what the necessity was for the preparation and signing of this document. Indeed it rather suggests that the parties to it had misgivings as to the propriety of their action in interfering with the devolution of the property of Dalpat Gir. The search for precedent is also suggestive. The object of making the plaintiff a disciple of Dalpat Gir was manifestly for the purpose of securing for him the property of Dalpat Gir. 19. Not a single document has been given in evidence in support of the alleged custom and the cases in which chelas have been appointed by the widows of deceased: house-holder Goshains are of recent date. It would seem that the small community of girhast Goshains at Hardwar are bent upon introducing a new usage as to the devoidtion of the property of the members of their community. What the necessity for a girahst Goshain to have a chela is, is not apparent. Sush a Goshain has not cast off the world and become an ascetic. On the contrary he is immersed in worldly affairs and has his family to look after. His time is not occupied in the study of the Shastras or in imparting a knowledge of the Shastras to pupils. It does not seem reasonable that the sons of such a Goshain under such circumstances should be excluded from inheriting his property by any chela who may be appointed by his widow. 20. As we pointed out, the defendants-appellants did not rest their, case in the Court below or before us so much upon the strength of their own title as upon the weakness of the plaintiff's case. This they were entitled to do. They did, however, adduce some evidence to prove that amongst girahst Goshain no one is placed upon the gaddi as in the case of Nihangs. An important matter is that Ram Gir made a will (No. 2210. of the record), dated the 29th of November, 1879, which is witnessed by number of members of his community and in it left his property to his three sons in equal shares and no question was raised as to his power to do so. Moreover, we find that his three sons partitioned his property between them. of the record), dated the 29th of November, 1879, which is witnessed by number of members of his community and in it left his property to his three sons in equal shares and no question was raised as to his power to do so. Moreover, we find that his three sons partitioned his property between them. This partition was carried out by a deed, dated the 6th-of June, 1892, and as has already been pointed out, the three sons thereafter held their shares separately. In that deed it is recited that the properties were owned and possessed by the executants as ancestral joint property left by Mahant Ram Gir, their deceased Guru and father. A provision in that deed to the effect that the executants should not have power to transfer their shares to a stranger was relied on by the learned advocate for the plaintiff-respondent as showing that the property was not regarded as being subject to the ordinary rules governing secular property, but we do not see that this helps his case to any appreciable extent. Ganpat Gir disposed of his share by a will, dated the 20th of February, 1902, in favour of a place of worship inside his house called Mahadeojio and also in favour of the defendants-appellants, Chhajju Gir and Musammat Ram Rakkhi. 21. Upon the whole we are unable to say that the custom set up by the plaintiff-respondent was proved by such clear and unambiguous evidence as is requisite for the establishment of a custom of usage modifying the ordinary law of succession. A custom, whereby the sons of the owner of the property may be deprived of their right to that property by the appointment after the death of their father of a chela to him by his widow or by the community to which they belong, is a startling one. This is the custom which the plaintiff-respondent sets up. We should require the clearest evidence of the antiquity of such a custom before we could give legal recognition to it. No evidence in proof of the antiquity of the custom has been given. We merely have a few instances of its adoption extending over a period of about 20 years. We may quote with advantage the language of their Lordships of the Privy Council in the case of Earn Laksmi Ammal v. Sivanatha Perumal Sethurayar, [1872] 14 M.I.A., 570. No evidence in proof of the antiquity of the custom has been given. We merely have a few instances of its adoption extending over a period of about 20 years. We may quote with advantage the language of their Lordships of the Privy Council in the case of Earn Laksmi Ammal v. Sivanatha Perumal Sethurayar, [1872] 14 M.I.A., 570. in regard to special usages. At page 585 they say “Their Lordships are fully sensible of the importance and justice of giving effect to long established usages existing in particular districts and families in India but it is of the essence of special usages modifying the ordinary law of succession that they should be ancient and invariable, and it is further essential that they should be established to be so by clear and unambiguous evidence. It is only by means of such evidence that the Courts can be assured of their existence and that they possess the conditions of antiquity and certainty on which alone their legal title to recognition depends.” The evidence before us in this case in proof of the alleged custom is neither clear or unambiguous, and it by no means satisfies us that the alleged custom possesses the conditions of antiquity or certainty entitling it to recognition. The plaintiff-respondent therefore has failed to establish the custom which he set up and his suit must fail. 22. We therefore allow the appeal, set aside the decree of the Court below and dismiss the plaintiff's suit with costs in this Court and in the lower Court, including fees in this Court on the higher scale.