The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-10-13


quences are supposed to fall on the enemy
whose action has driven the deceased to
self-immoation.
| saw man not long since at Allahabad
who has sat in one position for fifty years
on a stone pedestal exposed to sun, wind
and rain. He never moves except once a
day, when his attendants lead him to the
Gangcs. He is an object of worship to
thousands, and even high-caste Brahmins
pay him homage.
saw two Urdhva -bahus, one at Gaya
aud the other at Bennres-that is, deyo.
tees who hold their arms with clenched
fists above their heads for years, until they
become shrivelled and the finger nails pen
citrate through the back Of the hands.
Another man was prostrating himself and
measuring every inch of the ground with
his body round the hill of Govardhau when
| passed.
Two attempts at samadh occurred in
Mr.. Sheppard's district. A devotee an
nounced his intention Of adopting this ex-
traordinary method of securing perfect
abstraction and beatitude, and was actual
ly buried alive in the neigbborhood of
village. His friends were detcctcdb the
villagers in pouring milk down a hollow
bamboo which had been arranged to sup
ply the buried man with air and food.
The bamboo was removed, and the inferred
man was found dead when his friends
opened the grave shortly afterward. The
other attempt is still more recent, and |
will conclude this communication by CIV
ing Mr.. Sheppards own account Of it al
most in his own words;
"As | was shooting near my camp one
morning, mounted orderly came up with
news that Bhat had performed samadh
that afternoon in a neighboring village,
and that there were much consequent ex-
citement there. Not having horse with
me, directed the orderly to ride off to
the village and to dig up the buried man,
taking into custody any persons who might
endeayor to oppose the execution of my
orders. On returning to my camp | or
dered the apprehension of all those who
had assisted in the samadh, and soon af-
terward received a report that the man
had been actually buried in vault in his
own house, but had been taken out alive.
He was however, very weak, and died the
following morning. 1t was then reported
to me that the limbs, though cold, had not
stiffeued, and the people, ready as of old
to be deceived, and always inclined to at
tribute the smallest departure from the
ordinary course of events to supernatural
agency, declared that the Bhat was not
dead, but lying in the samadh trance.
There was, however, no pulse, and as it
was clear that, even if the supposition of
the villagers was correct, medical treat
ment would be desirable, l sent the body
in cart to the nearest dispensary, distant
some six or seven miles, and in due time
received q certificate of death from the
hospital assistant in charge of that insti-
tuition, together with report Of post
mortem examination of the body, which
showed that death had resulted from heart
disease. Meanwhile | visited the village
and ascertained the following facts
"The deceased was man in fairly COM
Portable circumstances, and with some re-
ligious pretensions. 1t was well known
that he aspired to still higher reputation
for sanctity, and that with this view he
had for several months been contemplating
samadh. The proper date for this rite had
been finally settled after many solemn GER
emonies and the due observance of fast
ing, prayer and charity. On the afternoon
fixed for the samadh he assembled the vii
layers, and told them that it had been i'm
parted to him in vision that the Deity
required him to pass six weeks in religious
abstraction, and that he felt compelled to
obey the Divine command, and to remain
in the vault prepared for him during the
period. He then produced and worshipped
a small earthen vessel containing the sa-
cred Tulsi plant, and afterward carefully
planted therein twenty grains of barley,
telling the villagers to watch for their
growth, as it had been revealed to him
that the grains represented his life IT. at
the end Of the six weeks, the grains had
sprouted, the villagers we're to understand
that the Bhat was still alive. He was
then to be removed from the vault, and
worshipped as saint. If, on the other
hand, termination had not taken place,
they were to understand that the Bhat
was dead also, and the vault was in that
case to be permanently bricked up, and
the Tulsi planted over the grave.
"After giving these directions, the de-
votee recited some Mantras and entered
the vault, bidding farewell to the world,
and declaring his belief that his life would
be miraculously preserved. The vault was
then rooted over with boards, and plastered
thickly with mud. About two hours after
this event he was removed from the vault
by the police under my orders, and placed
in the yerandah, the house being locked
up.
"After ascertaining the above particu-
lars, | caused the house TO be opened, and
then discovered that gross attempt at
imposturc had been practised. The grave
was about three feet deep, being hole
dug in the floor of the inner room of the
house. The wall of the room formed one
side of the vault. The roof over the lat
ter was clumsy structure, and had been
partly demolished to allow of the removal
Of the deyotee. As usual in India the
only light admitted to the room was
through the door, and the unsubstantial
nature of the roof was not likely to attract
the attention of the villagers. But | sat
isfed myself that the occupant of the
vault might, with great ease, have demol-
ished the covering which was supposed to
shut him of from the world. The vault