Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-24
A Religion i'm Its Decay-HOrrible
Features of Brahminism
Icutta Correspondence of th

v
A great criminal case, which has excited the
orthodox HindoOs of Bengal for some months
has lust closed The Mob unit or monk priest of
Tarkeshwar, the shrine of Sheev near Seram-
pore, has long been notorious for such practices
as those which led to the Maharajah trial in
western India some years ago. He had pur-
chased from the parents first one daughter and
then another, who were deluded by his priestly
character into yieldingto his will, vet no one at
tempted 70 stop the scandal, and the sst re-
spectacle still permitted their wives and daugh-
tiers to visit shrine and adore a sensualist who
was supposed to grant children to the barren
ard health to the sick.
one OF the daughters CHANGED to be the wife
OF Brahmin, whose duties in the Government
press of Calcutta kept him away from her ali
the week. This poor wife, Alokashee, had been
the victim of the intrigue for some tine when
the husbands eyes were opened. She confessed
her guilt to him, and they were apparently recon-
clled, when the Mohunt attempted to prevent
him from taking her to Calcutta. Maddened by
this he slew the wife, confessed the murder
was tried by native jury. which ACC uitted him
a. insane, and was finally sentenced by the high
court to life imprisonment.
Adultery being penal Offense in the man in
India, the Mohunu fed to the French Asylum in
Chandernagore, but surrendered at last
Though defended by two English barristers and
very wealthy from the offerings at the shrine,
he has lust been convicted by the civilian Judge
OF Hooehly at the county sessions and sentenced
to three years imprisonment, with a fine OF
200. OF course he has appealed, but it is diff
Quito see why the maximum penalty was not
inflicted.
A. the judgment was given in English, none
but English speaking natives were allowed to
crowd into the court; but thousands of excited
Bengalese besieged the doors. More than once
on his way to and from the court the Mohunt
was mobbed, and had brickbats hurled at him
when sentence had been pronounced and the
Police Inspector was about to lay hold of the
convict, the latter exclaimed "Let no one ton
me, for you will commit sin. l will walk to
the carriage"
II not the offepse at least tho nub,i,it, and
horror added to the Offense by the murder of
the Brahmin's wife have struck blow at super
sutton. 1t is to be regretted that the trial was
not held before Judge of the High Court, com
petent to deal with the whole subjects of these
shrlnes and priestly brotherhOods, of idol en-
dowments and celibate Mounts, as Sir Joseph
Arnonld did with such effect in Bombay in the
Nallabschanga and Kojan cases. The dark
places OF HindoOlsm need light to be let in upon
them, If only for the sake Of the Hindoos. In
dehance OF penalties for contempt of Court the
pltlfai tale of Nobin Chunder Bannerjea, Alo,,-
ashee, bis wife, and the hated Mohunt has
formed the subject of both published story and
acted drama in the vernacular since the MUIR
der was committed.
The appointment of new Mohunt rests with
the NJ aharajah of Burdway, but the nominee
must be approved and indicted by "Chapter',
OF Mounts. few more cases like this and we
shall have the Hindoos themselves asking for
the secularization of these wealthy shrines.