The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-08-04
Mgrlrlanrulla Krahing.
Wissties Of Beath en- ism.

| ry year more than million of persons visit
this celebrated spot. The aged, the weak,
and the sick, undertake this pilgrimage Us 4,
| remedy for all evils. 1t is no uncommon oc-
currence, says one of our missionaries to
that place, to see thousands of miserable
worn-out pilgrims, with patience and for
tisude worthy of a better cause, binding their
tattered garments round their lacerated feet,
and go groaning along with bending back,
tottering steps, emaciated forms, and dull,
sunken, eyes, from day to day, and week to
week, until they obtain the object their pain
full tolls, view of Juggernaut. Nor is it n
matter Of wonder that a vast multitude sink
under their miseries for it is generally the
case, as soon as one of the party fails, that his
companions leave him, without the least
commisseration to his fate. These poor
wretches are, almost without exception.
thrown out upon the village Goigothia, to be
devoured by dogs, birds, DC. have sever
al times passed over this piece of ground and
the skulls and bones exceed calculation. The
fact of dogs, jackals and vultures living on
human prey is familiar to ever inhabitant of
Orissa. If the pilgrim lives to leave Jugger-
naut he has long journey before him, and
his means of support are often almost, if not
quite, exhausted. The work of death then
becomes rapid, and the route of the pilgrims
may be traced by the bones left by the jack
ais and vutures. The country near the TEN
pie seems suddenly to have been visited by
Pestiieice and famine. Dead bodies are seen
in every direction. Dogs, jackals and vul-
lures are seen watching the last moments of
the dying pilgrim, and not unfrequently has
tening his fate. Such is known to be the
mortality among pilgrims, that Hindoo of
property makes his will before he sets out
on his journey, and takes most affection
ate farewell of his disconsolate relations. 1t
Is supposed that above 1000 die annually
on pilgrimage to different holy places. In
the immediate precincts of the holy city in
which Juggernaut resides, are to be seen
crowds of deyotees some remain all day
with their heads on the ground and their
feet in the air; others with their whole
bodies covered with earth; come examining
their eyes with mud and their mouths with
straw. One has his foot tied to his neck, or
a pot of fire an his breast; another is envel-
oped in net work of ropes. On the high
festival day, when Juggernaut is dragged
forth from his temple, and mounted on his
lofty car in the presence of hundreds of thou
sands, who rend the air with shouts of "Vic-
services are commenced by the officiating
high priest, who is stationed in front of the
idol by loathsome pantomic exhibitions, and
by filthy, blasphemous songs. But is is not
until some poor victim of superstition casts
himself under the wheels of his ponderous
car, and Is crushed to death, that this horrid
king, as he is styled, is said to smile.
The heather are constantly in the practice
of performing great self-tortures upon them
selves. will mention few of these. Some
roll their bodies on the ground for hundreds
of miles. The Rev. Mr.. Haver gives an ac-
count of an Indian devotee who spent more
than nine years on journey from Benares
to Cape Comorin, that is from the 9th to
the 7th degree of north latitude. The whole
journey is made by rolling on the bare
ground from one side to the Other, about
three miles each day. His family accompa-
MED him and ministered to his wants. Some
throw themselves from high wall, a second
story Of house, often twenty or thirty feet
in height, upon iron spikes, or knives stuck
in a bag or mattrass Of straw. Many in this
way Gre often cruelty mangled and lacerated.
| In some instances the issue proves fatal
Sometimes bundles of thorns and other fire.
wood are accumulated among which the de-
yctees roll themselves uncovered. The ma
terials are next raised into pile ami set on
fire. Then the devotecs dance briskly over
the embers, and fling them into the air with
their naked hands, or toss them at one an
other. Some betake themselves to vertic-
al wheel, twenty or thirty feet in diameter
and raised considerably above the ground.
They bind themselves to the outer rim in
sitting posture, so that when the wheel rolls
round, their head points alternately to the
zenith and the nadir. One other species of
torture must mention. The deluded vota-
ries enter into VOW. With one hand they
cover their under lips with a layer of wet
earth or mud. On this with the other hand
they deposit some small grains, usually mus
tard-seed. They then stretch themselves fiat
on their backs, exposed to the dripping dews
of night and the blazing sun by day. And
their vow is, that from that fixed posi-
ton they will not stir~-will neither move,
nor turn, or eat, nor drink--till the seed plan
ted on their lips begin 10 sprout or germi-
nate. This vegetable process usually takes
place on the third or fourth day after which,
being released from their VOW, they arise, as
they doatingly imagine and believe laden
| with vast accession. of holiness and super.
lerogatory merit, ~ Seuader.