, 1877-10-14

SINGULAR SUPERSTITION IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
Pan-A1N Ca=ftft.
The maleyolent power Of the god SAM, the
Hindoo Saturn, is an essential part Of the Hin
doc faith. The sacred writings abound Hlth
Instances OF his lmplacable hatred to mankind.
We have various sources Of information as to
the character ascribcd to this deity; the at
counts drawn from which, though now differing
much in detail, seem to denote q common orl-
gin. In Greek mythology, Saturn is the son OF
Heaven and Earth, 4 deposcd ruler OF the gods
According to the view OF Piolemy and the
astrological writer's, he is the ''supremest OF
highest OF the planets, placed between Jupiter
and the armament; and Governor Of the airy
triplicity." When joined BY an eTil aspect to
the ascepdcnt, he causes sickness, family anlc-
tion, accidents, falls, and bruises The mind
becomes dull and heavy under his influence;
the bot1y, suffers lingering diseases. coughs,
colds, phlegmatic complaints, aud low fcver5.
When ill-dignfed he is envous, covetous, Jcal-
ous and mistrustfu!, timorous, sordd, dlSscill-
bling, sluggish, suspicious, stubborn, a conte'1-
ner Of woman, liar, malicious, ulmrinatlhs, ~
never cou1entcd, and ever repnln1. Ihls cheer
ful character is not inconsistent With the myth
oIofrical accounts OF either branch OF the aryan
race, :. .;
satuT1line indicates sulen ana gloomy oisposl-
1 II
and deyourcd his children. But lhe ilinuoo
Saturn delights in acts Of wa;ton cruelty anu
mischief, putsues his victim WIN Inc lclne4ty
and relentlessncss of j bloohound' and scidon
quits his prey until Tue vrr urn1ss r,narkbIe how
ever. that the power OF SAM is not snpposei 10
e,tcnd to the deprivation Of iife IN tins therc
is \ remarkable resemblance to the Satan ~ Inc
Book OF Job. San oppresses his victims l9r =
inuger or shorter period, but never longer than
srvrn wears aud half. which is the MAXIMUM
ueriod OF the duration OF his maleFolence' ac-
corlinr to the Hindoos. According to Ptolcny
his three periods are thirty. ioity-thfce anu y
half, and fifty years anu MS ~
a ncr1nancnt nature, is 4G5 years. 1t Is useless
tn attempt any escape from misfortune 50 long
| as SAM is against lis. His power c1tchas oNel
the heavens. the earth, the sea. anu Inc feSiono
| hc1oy the earth, and all beings, created OF IN
crcat ed. mortal or immortal, are llab1c 10 tnc
wrath Of this terrible being, who seems 10 nave
hceI, cod after Calviu's own heart. slva. tne
first nerson Of the Iintloo triad was drlven lnto
madness by Sani. and deekea WIZ t,' a:.,,nne
| nents aud human bones, danced Win oeniuus
pp,nid graves. VisInu was tied to rlce.ifloitas
by sbepherdesscs. for having at sanls tnsISa "a
ton. stolen butter and ghee subraaa'la WA
changed into Vengai tree py tIle sa1,e
| V,rnesyara, when an infant, had MS hea9
burned up by the evl glances Of san,-aM a. lecnu
reca]lur the maloccilio, or evil eye oi the 1ta1-
| ians. which Plus TX. is believed 70 possess:
! Th, most noted instance ot the pcis1slel!
| roa1ice al SAM is the theme OF splcnu'o el'i
! sn]o nj the Maha Bharata.-the adventures "
| Vala and Damayanti. kesenting the prefer
~nre shawn by tic latter for the former, ean
t;ret melted NaIa to gamble away his Kingdom,
and then turned the pair pcnnless anu !oi1o5l n !
min The desert, where lie brought on them
scr;cs If misfortunes the recital Of which stTlke:
| 1hc reader with horror 1t would DC dl1ncu4l u
fnd n narallel tale in any other literature con
| tainng 80 much misery anu terror, win suci
coniugal fidelity and unbendlng 1oI..uSo .us,e
There is q temple dedicated to Sam ~ huts,..
uur. in the southwestern part o. t1c :na!u4 - !;
District Like all cditlces OF TINS nature, ~ :.
divided into three portions o1 outes apaa.aa
holy place, and celia, or sanctum sahcioau,i;' ,t;
| The image of SAM is mountcu gu seansa ~.
nrnw His ministers are Brahmin priests, ant
L;e ministratiops resemble those OF othe
Rr,hmmieal pagodas, with the exception
| that no Dasis1 or Fcstals, - ~
+oci,ed 70 the temples of Saturn. 4 Grea
tast;val nf three days' duration is held, CON
.,,onc;1,p m the 18th Of Adj each year, in homo
~ ne niisogyuist god, on which, contrary to IN
rena1 custom, all the worshipers are feasted a
+hc ernense of the temple, although the offe'
;ngs made far exceed the amount OF Inc e,
neGd;t11re. Sheep, poultry, rice, camphGl
1p,1antairs. and artificial flowers made OF sol
nd eiIvcr are offered. The animals are brougE
ai; ai;ra and are sold at auction BY the priests
41.. third day OF the feast The special p'
cnliarity OF the rite is that all the "ofsnlpGl ~
oarncstir supplicate not the presence put u
ohsence Of the eod, and beseech him never
rtsIt their homes or to turn the evil light Oh