Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-04-14
CUSTOMS IN INDIA.

From an interesting report in the Christian En-
quirer of a lecture by Mr.. Gangooly;
The car Of Juggernaut has been misunderstood.
There is no fixed rule to make this car. 1t is
made in the shape of q pyramid sometimes, very
expensive and Of great size. The proof Of the adj
vancement Of the people in sculpture may be read
on this car. The cars are sometimes fifty feet 10
height and sixteen feet square at the base. As
1t rises, it projects in a great many %steeples, some
what like those on a church. This car took its
origin rrJm the fact that Crishna, the god, when
q child, lived in the village Of Kouka. The king
in a noighboring province had a great festival, in
Vited Crishua to be present, and sent q car to car
ry him to the festival. To NINE rate the
fact, the Hindoos carry the image Of Crishna on it
AS they say) to give him a good ride. As to the
selfsacrif,o of the ~Iindoos, it is not true. The
IIindoos believe that, if a sinner should give two
or three pulls at the ropes connected with the car.
be will be taken to heaven by q similar car
This false idea induces many of the mental Hin.
docs to 60 forward and pull these cars; and ofton
by their carelossness, they fall under the wheels,
and are inundated. l once saw four perish in this
way, so that their faces wore entirely obliterated.
When caution is taken, no one is killed. When a
heavy car gets in motion, it cannot be stopped,
being drawn by hosts Of horses. The ropes with
which the people pull the car are FIVE hundred
yards long.
When young I v wanted to help draw the car
l rode on it but was afraid to draw it. thought
that heaven would be thus secured, such was nv
earnestness and love for these idols. 1t makes
me smile when think of these things. Once it
rained and blew very hard, and all the people left
the car, except myself, l remained, and held the
IDOL from being blown about by tho wind. The
very consciousness Of doing something good made
me feel cheerful and contented.
This car is drawn on the first day of every
month; and or the eight day it is Il drawn back
The latter is a matter of policy; it has no sanction
in the Hindoo scriptures.
The rich man who dedicates the car, en~tertains
freely all the lower castles, by thousands every
day. This is the leading feature of Brahminism,
viz, the carrying Of aims to the poor. All other
ceremonies do not amount to much, if this is not
done.
A rich man promised the river Gangos one
thousand ripe mangoos. AS the servants we're
bearing tho baskets to the river with this fruit
(which is the richest fruit in India a poor man
tired and hungry came and asked for one of the
mangoes. The servants bid him 90 about his bu-
9iness. He hazarded his life, and took one and
ate it. At night, it is said, that the river Ganges
came to the rich man in human form claiming the
payment of nine hundred aad ninety mine man.
goes, saying that Re had received but one. In
this, Brahminism Indicates a beautiful form of
charity. l am sorry to say that it also teaches
that, il yOu help a Brahmin, and do not help 9TH
er castles, you do right.
| will, in closing, describe the ceremony Of
hook-swinging. In this matter, the Brahmins act
cunningIy. They do not perform the ceremony
themselves, but let other people do it. The hook
swinging takes place in honor of silva. Agreat king
is supposed to be the founder of this institution.
You know, the monastic idea is, that self-torture
propitiates the Deity; here is the same idea.-
Those days the worshipers of silva walk the streets.
carrying with them q basket full of threads; and,
on meeting a man, they put one Of these threads
around him, and compel him to 90 with them:-
The h~ook-swinging is a horrible performance
They take a long pole, as high and thick as those
used for the electric telegraph. The deYotee
kneels on the ground, aud two iron hooks as thick
as my little finger are passed through his back.
lie is then dragged to the pole, and the people
give him a swing. Once | saw a man with his
legs towards heaven, his head downward. The
people who do this do not appear to suffer.
know not the reason. l felt such enthusiasm that
| tried once to fasten one through my own skin.
My faIher. said, You must not do tit will dis.
please the god.'
There is another fearful ceremony in this wor.
ship, A man will take a dreadful fat-headed
snake Il do not know what you would call it)
and pass it through his tongue, and coiling it
around him, perform a dance.
have told you what | believe to be the simple
truth. India is truly in o state of great degrade
ton. What ore the idols. hooks and festivals ?
These are n~othing-are not essential to salvation.
Let us lie at the feet Of Christ, and ever trust in
our Heavenly Father. The age of symbolism has
passed away; let us do what we can to bring
about the emancipation of those who will still
hon 10 idoIap