The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-08-05
HindOO Worship.

The unspeakably sacred image is
wooden, squat, black, ugly, and was
loaded with wreaths and long garlands OF
flowers. In the temple precints there is a
large tank 80 or 60 yards square, and
paved all round with flights OF steps; a
small sacellum is islanded in the middle,
and the water swarms with large fish,
groups of Brahmin worshipers and dane
ing girls in their bright attire throng the
steps, and with the temple buildings
around, over which rise the feathery heads
of palms and cocoa trees, the whole pre-
sents truly Indian picture. We saw the
god taken in state for row on the tank,
and an airing round the square outside the
temple. Near midnight, when the full
moon rode high in cloudless heaven, his
image, not the very sacred one, which
may not be handled, but smaller, was
brought forth by pure Brahmins and
placed under splendid canopy on plat
form laid across two large canoes. The
whole square of the tank was lit up with
a triple line of ights-smaller cressets at
close intervals-rockets and fireworks
assembled in essantly, and the barge, also
brilliantly lit up, and carrying a band OF
discordant music, andBrahmins tanning the
image with silver fans, was punted round
and round the tank amid loud acclama-
tons. After this. the image was placed
on a gorgeous silver-plated beaked palan-
quin, and borne solemnly outside the tenn
pie to the great idOl-car that stood dressed
up, and adorned with an irfinity of tinsel.
flags, streamers. and flOwer-wreaths. On
this it was lifted, and placed in jcweled
shrine, amidst storm of applause and
clapping of hands-these seem the only
occasions when the Hindoos do clap hands
and then. with all the company of Brah'
minis, headed by the Swamies marching
in front, followed by flambeauX and wild
music, the car was slowly hauled by hun
dreds of votaries round the square, which
was illuminated by three lines of lights,
ascending at intervals into pyramids. A
pause was made halfway, when there was
grand display of rockets, fire fountains
aud wheels, and two lines Of camphor and
oiled cotton laid along the middle of the
road were kindled and famed up brilliant
ly. Then the car moved on TO the en-
trance Of the temple, and the gods outing
was accomplished. Among the jewels o.
the tempe was an image OF the god ter
inches long, of solid gold, inclosed by {
broad horseshoe arch of the same, wear
| ing q tall inter banded with brilliants anC
small rubies, and with a splendid cut sap
phire, as big as form. let into the breast
Remarkable also was a long string o
pearls ana emeralds, the former the size o
large peas, the latter of nuts, but uncut
and several fiawed. Most wondrous wa,
the emerald shrine, presented of old by {
rajah OF Mysore; four clustered pillars
each of four fluted emeralds four inche,
long and as thick as a pencil, support ;
canopy of long thick emeralds laid length
wise, diminishing to the center, and res
on thick emerald pedestal. In thi
shrine, tiny gold image of the god i
placed on grand occasions; it is Difficult
to believe the stones are real; if so, tn,
value eff the shrine must be stupendou
and exceed COMPLIMENTARY Maya