Âshiqân.—(Literally “lovers”). A branch of the Madâri (q.v.) Muhammadan Faqîrs.
Distribution of the Âshiqân according to the Census of 1891.
| District. | Number. |
| Muzaffarnagar | 18 |
| Bulandshahr | 59 |
| Mathura | 5 |
| Agra | 4 |
| Farrukhâbâd | 163 |
| Mainpuri | 15 |
| Etâwah | 12 |
| Etah | 36 |
| Bareilly | 735 |
| Budâun | 108 |
| Morâdâbâd | 7 |
| Shâhjahânpur | 381 |
| Pilibhît | 196 |
| Cawnpur | 35 |
| Allahâbâd | 2 |
| Ghâzipur | 121 |
| Gorakhpur | 197 |
| Azamgarh | 111 |
| Sîtapur | 5 |
| Hardoi | 354 |
| Kheri | 138 |
| Gonda | 1 |
| Bahrâich | 19 |
| Total | 2,722 |
[[86]]
Âtishbâz.—(Âtish, “fire,” bâz, bâkhtan or bazîdan “to play”.) Also known as Hawaigar or rocket-maker—the maker of fire-works. The variety of fire-works made is very great: the chief are the grenade (anâr), the rocket (mahtâbi, hawai), and the squib (chachhundar). The trade is a fluctuating one, as fire-works are chiefly in demand about the time of Hindu marriages in May, June, and hardly any are used between the Muharram and Chehlam, when Muhammadans do not marry. The caste is purely occupational, and all are Muhammadans.
Distribution of the Âtishbâz according to the Census of 1891.
| District. | Number. |
| Sahâranpur | 1 |
| Muzaffarnagar | 12 |
| Aligarh | 9 |
| Farrukhâbâd | 8 |
| Etah | 1 |
| Bareilly | 1 |
| Morâdâbâd | 43 |
| Cawnpur | 1 |
| Fatehpur | 28 |
| Allahâbâd | 111 |
| Benares | 33 |
| Jaunpur | 134 |
| Gorakhpur | 4 |
| Azamgarh | 2 |
| Râê Bareli | 17 |
| Sultânpur | 37 |
| Partâbgarh | 92 |
| Total | 534 |
Atît[68].—(Sanskrit, Atîta—“past, gone by”.) A term of rather vague significance, but usually regarded as synonymous with Sannyâsi. Some who are known as Sannyâsi Atîts are regular ascetics. The Gharbâri or house-holders have abandoned the celibate life and marry. They marry usually at the age of seven or eight. Widow marriage is not allowed, but it is understood that the widows of the caste very often leave the family and form irregular connections. Concubinage is allowed.
2. Atîts are Saiva Hindus, and worship Mahâbîr, Mahâdeva and Bhairon Nâth. Their priests are Brâhmans. At Mirzapur they [[87]]put some fire into the mouth of the corpse and throw it into the Ganges. The death impurity lasts ten days, as in the case of high caste Hindus. They do not feed Mahâpâtras after a death, but Dasnâmis. Many of them are cultivators and some hold patches of rent-free land which have been granted to them by land-holders. They wear clothes dyed in ochre (geru), and carry a rosary of rudrâksha beads. Brâhmans, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas will not eat either kachchi or pakki from their hands; Kahârs and Nâis will do so. Brâhmans will, however, take water from them. They do not use spirits or flesh. Other people salute them by Namo Nârâyan; and they use the same form of salutation among themselves.
Audhiya.[69]—A tribe found in the Fatehpur District. They are known as Audhiya or Audhya, Ajudhyabâsi or Avadhapuri, and take their name from the city of Ajudhya, in Oudh. They prefer the title of Ajudhyabâsi, or residents of Ajudhya; by outsiders they are usually called Audhiya, or “Oudh men.” They claim to be really Banyas, and say that they emigrated from Ajudhya; but they have no means of fixing the time of their arrival in Fatehpur. One tradition is that their movement was connected with the expedition of Râma Chandra against Lanka or Ceylon.