The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04
Page q.
THE HINDOO sUTTEE.
Burning on the Funeral Pyre Of Her
Deceased Husband.
Calcutta Bonsalee. 1


In the remote village of Gader-De-
bee, in the district OF Bunharah, there
are 10 be seen two small tombs on the
bank OF a small lake, containing the
holy ashes OF young lady who burnt
herself alive on the funeral pyre OF
her deceased husband. The name of
the husband of the lady was Bra
hamand GoSsain, and he died of fever
in the morning. She wept not, but
sat by the dead body of her husband.
How we wished that she could give
vent to her feelings and relieve her
self. But no, she sat and uttered
neither a sigh nor groan. At last
she arose and proceeded straightway
towards the tkakoor BARGE TO the
image of the god Krishma There
she went, followed by many men and
women, and Frustrated herself before
the god. The she stood, and began to
divest herself of the ornaments that
she had on her person. One by one
she took them and placed them at the
foot of the god, for the first time speak
ing: Here, my lord, take them, IIaeed
them no longer" And then she slowly
came back TO where the body of her
husband was lying covered. She then
addressed her Drother-in-law and said;
Prepare for the ceremony of crema-
ton, you know l can't live without
him" Though her relations, friends
and neighbors had all suspected that
something serious was pending, the
first announcement was received with
a shock which could not be described.
Then followed discussions, and her
friends, relations and neighbors all be-
gan to dissuade her to no purpose. The
uncle-ln-law, the mother-ln-law, whom
Hindoo lady is bound TO revere next
to her God, commanded, and then she
earnestly pleaded to her to forbear;
but she was not to be moved, then
came the guroo, the purohit, whom,
as her spiritual guides, she was bound
to obey; they tried their best, but she
was determined. Time rolled on.
and then she wavered not for
a moment. Then the last de-
vice was restored to. Her fears were
appealed to; they described to her the
horrible and painful sufferings OF a
living man upon funeral pie. AT
first she .disdained to give replies 10
their appeals to her fears, but at last
when Obliged to say something she
said: You need not be ANXIOUS; my
soul has tied with my lord. AS for
bodily sutferings, L shaIl show you
that need not apprehend them"
There was lamp burning under the
usual custom, by the corpse, aud aho
put one OF her fingers upon the slow
IRE OF the lamp and burnt it without
wincing. Crowds had then collected
from All parts OF the country. IL WAS
then about p. IN, and the corpse was
carried to burning CHAT on the bank
of the small lake, only about a couple
Of hundred yards from this house, and
the lady followed, followed 10y thou
sands of men chanting "Hariboie."
The crowd then began 10 collect dry
faggots, and heaps were gathered In
moment. While
THE FUNERAL PILE
was in the process of being prepared,
the corpse was bathed, and the lady
herself performed her addition. she
then put on vermillion on her fore
head and dressed herself lin a new
Saree Cloth for ladies) and then slowly
entered the funeral pile. Her hair
was properly adjusted by her friends,
and they adorned her with garlands
and wreaths OF flowers. The crowd
then with fearful eyes begged OF her
blessings and some tokens OF her to be
kept in remembrance of her self-sacri-
flee. She was supplied with cowries,
plantains, betelnuts, ETC., and she
began to throw handfuls of them
among the crowd. She then laid her
self by the corpse of her husband in
the posture Of warm embrace. She
gave the order, and the pile was
lighted in several places and there
was at once blazing fire. The Suffice
raised her hand and began TO utter
the name of Horee, turning her hand
round and round. She was dead
before the fire had reached her sacred
person.
Thus a Hindoo widow ended her
life on the funeral pyre of her hus-
band. Her husband was dead, and the
world appeared to her dreary waste.
She was determined 10 follow her
lord to the unknown world, unde-
TERED by the solicitations Of her
friends and relations and the tempta-
tons of the worldly pleasures. Her
fears were appealed to, but in vain.
| She felt she could not lvea moment
without her lord; she must accompany
him, and under the influence OF this
overwhelming impulse she entered
the flames without the least display
of fear and with an alacrity which
surpasses all description. We ask who
can contemplate this spirit-stirring
scene, this wonderful spectacle, with
out feeling sort of generation for the
lady who thus offered herself as q
sacrifice on the altar of connubial
duty. May her spirit rest in peace.
and from its place IN the heavens
shed light upon her surviving broth
ers and sisters, and upon her country
men, and inspire them with courage
in the accomplishment OF their Ondsin
life.