Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-12-23
The Temple OF Jnggernant Tumbiing
TO Pieces.

An egeBi OF some importance has re.
Gently occarred ia connection with the
Temple of JuGgeTEsut. IL has already
excited considerable interest In Orrisss
and Bengal, and will be- before long the
sui5jss.f of conversation in every town and
village IN Northern and Western India.
Throughout the whole of the Empire
there II no shrine so sacred as Pooree. and
no spot where q deyout Eindoo would
rather die than beneath the shadow ~
this great fame What Palestine and its
temple we're 20 the Jew, Orrissa and ia
temple are 20 q Hindoo. The native Of
Northern India especially feels that until
he has yaxen the pilgrimage the one great
act OF his life has yet 10 be performed,
and when he returns home and tells how
he has oathed In the sacred water, ate Of
the sacred food, sal beneath the shadow
Of the tree, be is looked upon a. diff.
ferent being The temple, which cost
half q million sterling Of the money Of
our times, IL literally black with age.
The storms Of nearly seven centuries,
which are often so violent in the Bay Of
Bengal have produced little impression
uppn il. and until few weeks ago Ii
seemed likely 10 remain as many cen
turtles more Many Of the large temples
In the province are now In ruins, but
they have not fallen through the wear and
tear OF time A silent but effectual
power has been the cause Of this destruc-
ton. The seeds Of the peepul and ban
van trees have got into the foundations.
These have taken root; the saplina has
forced its way through the assures OF the
stones, and In process Of years the whole
fabric has been loosened and eventually
brought down, and II seems probable
that the Temple OF Juggernaut will share
the same fate. At the tate car festivals, as
soon as The idols had been taken from
their thrones for their annual excursion,
several large stones from the inner root
fell on the pistform. Had they fallen
few minutes earlier the idols would have
been shattered 10 atoms, and In all prob.
ability there would have been great loss Of
life. The resident Magistrate applied 10
the Governor for an engineer 70 inspect
the damage. This Mas found 10 be a very
difficult task, AS the temple is so dark.
There are no apertures for the light; five
or six lights are kept burning in the day
time, and even with these nothing IL yisi.
bic but the idols Plans have been pre-.
pared and an estimate has been made Of
tiit yDHls ~ - Jus W. ihiNis ma
are repaired, and the sound Of the chiscl
and The hammer ON the top Of this great
temple viii do more 10 weaken the faith
Of the Hindoo In Juggernaut than any
thing that has occurred in the present
generation There will be no lack Of
money for any estimate, as the priests are
very wealthy aud the annual income Of
the temple Is said TO amount 10 t6S 900.
The question which Is ag!iating all priests
is, what IL 10 be done with the idols while
the repairs are being made? The officers
OF the temple are most anxious 10 have
the idols restored 10 their thrones. They
propose that an inner ceiling of wood
shall be made To protect the idols and the
worshipers; but there would be so much
danger, should there he another fall Of
stones, that the Rajah will not consent
fHdta Cor. L0ndoa Times.