Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-19
A RELIGION In IT'S DECAY.
Horrible Features of Brahminism

III VI
Calcutta Cor. of the London Times.l
A great criminal case, which has ex-
cited the orthodox Hindoos of Bengal
for some months, has just closed The
Mohunt, or monk.priest, of Tarkeshway,
the shrine of SheeV, near Serampore,
has long been notorious for such prac-
tees as those which led to the Maharaj
trial in Western India some years ago.
He had purchased from the parents first
one daughter and then another, who
we're deluded by his priestly character
into yielding to his will, yet no one at
tempted to stop the scandal, and the
most respectable still permitted their
wives and daughters to visit a shrine
and adore a sensualist, who was sup
posed to grant children to the barren
and 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 all the week. This
poor wife, Alokashee. had been the VIC
tim of the intrigue for some time when
her husbands eyes we're opened. She
confessed her guilt to him, and they
were apparently reconciled, when the
Mohunt attempted to prevent him from
taking her to Calcntta. Maddened by
this he slew the wife, confessed the muir
der, was tried by native jury, which
acquitted him as insane, and was finally
sentenced by the high court to life i'm
prisoDment
Adultery being a penal offence in the
man in India, the Mohunt fled 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,
be has just been convicted by the civil
ian Judge of Hooghly at the county ses-
s,ons and sentenced to three years i'm.
prisonment, with a 6ne Of two hundred
mounds. OF course he has appealed, but
Il is difficult TO see why the maximum
penalty was not inflicted.
As the judgment was given in English
none but English-speaking natives were
allowed TO crowd into the court; but
thousands of excited Bengalees besieged
the doors. More than once on mis- way
to and from the court the Mohunt, was
mobbed and had brickbats hurled at
him. When senisnee had been pro-
nounced and the Police Inspector was
about to lay SoId of the convict, the lat
ter exclaimed, "Let no one touch me-
for you will commit o sin. Will walk
to the carriage"
If not the oaense, at least the publicity
and horror added to the offense by the
murder ofth Brahmin's wife have struck
a blow at superstition. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the trial was not held before
a Judge of high court, competent to
deal with the whole subject of these
shrines and priestly brotherhOods, of
idol endowments and celibate Mohunts,
as Sir Joseph Arnould did with such
effect in Bombay in the YallabaehaDga
and Koiah cases. The dark places of
Hindooism need light TO be let in upon
them, if only for the sake of the Hin
docs. In defiance of penalties for con-
tempt of court the pitiful tale of Nobin
Chunder Bannerjea, Alokeshee, his wife,
and the hated Mohunt has formed the
subject of both published story and
acted drama Ia, the vernacular since the
murder was committed.
The appointment of q new Mohunt
rests with the Maharajah of BurdNanI
but the nominee must be approved and
indueted by "Chapter OF Mohunts:
A few more cases like this aud we shall
have the BindoOs themselves asking toF
the secularizatiOn Of these wealthy
shrines.