Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-06-11
COLORS OF THE GODS.

1t was bitter disappointment to me
that could not find time to visit Muttra,
traditionally identified with the Gokula,
or birth place of Krishna. 1t would have
been satisfaction to see for myself wheth
er there was anything in the general ap-
pearance of the place which might be
related to that legend which in form SO
closely resembles the New Testament ac-
count of the nativity of Christ, while in
spirit it is SO absolutely contrary to the
moral connotations of the latter. It
seems that The Influences which surround
the legend of Krishna correspondto some
which gradually invested the apocryphal
traditions of Christ. Krishna is said to
be name meaning black. He is, how
ever, not painted black, but dark blue,
and vita face distinct from the ordinary
Hindu face.
l saw several representations of him
which reminded me of the Bambino at
Rome, except that the Catholic image
has more Indian complexion than
Krishna. 1t has often been remarked
in Europe that black virgins or discolored
images of the infant Jesus possesses more
sauctity for peasants than the most beau
tiful statues in metal or marble. 1t is no
doubt the antiquity of these time-darken.
ed efhgies which has brought an accum-
ulated fund of credit to their altars. In
some cases it is probable that the credit
of pre-Christian miracles surrounding
some deity has passed to reconsecrated
forms, like the virgin of Glory, which
Louis XI. adorned and at whose feet he
was buried. There is little doubt, at
any rate, that Krishna is an image refer
able to some race other than any now
occupying the regions where he is wor-
SHIPPED.
There are cases in which other Oriental
gods and heroes are given a peculiar
color. Thus the hero Rama is sometimes
painted green. Whether this is the re
suit of surviving conservation of the
wearing of the green" by some ancient
clan, or of the blua or black by another,
or whether it is simply desire to dis.
tiDguish those of Divine parentage from
ordinary humanity, seems doubtful. II
| is, however, interesting to note certain
parallelism between Oriental and Euro
pean developments CELSIUS said that the
narrative of the nativity would not seem
so holy to the Christians if they found it
in legend concerning Jupiter In
reading the story of young Krishna
| among the milk-maids, their dances and
his marriage with some of them, Chris
tians can only feel astonishmers thai
such stories are painted and curved in
temples. -. =
That some of Krishna's worshipers
| however, have regarded these things in a
mystical light, 10 suggested by the fac!
that dances form no part Of the pleasure
Of amusement by the young Hindus, ana
| although, as have had too frequent
occasi ,ns to remark, sensuality related tt
much Hindu idolatry, it would appear tt
affect the rites of Krishna least. One
must also guard himself against confus
| Jog this consecfated sensuality in the
East with immortality. Nothing car
be technically described as immoral
which religion and custom sanction
however evil the effects may appear tc
| those of other customs and principles
Jogendra Chandrs Ghosh, in a learned
essay on the "Joint Family Organiza,
ton of India says: Although ths
history and developEent of joint family
life is unknown, yet a we'll and careful
directed volition, rather than haphaz-
ard and spontaneous growth, may be
presumed from the fact that the Hindui
of to-day look upon the five sons of Pan
du and the four sons of Dasarath a.
model nembers of joint family society,"
Whether this includes the polvandroui
relation of the sons of Pandu to sheil
wife Draupadi, is not stated; but there
are many signs that polyandry, whetbe.
Elegalized. or not, is by no means regarded
as fragrant institution in this region
| Koncare D. Conway IN San Francisco
| Chronicle.