The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-06-24
THE JUGGERNAUT.
A Visit to the Celebrated HiHdOo
Shrine-The Annual Procession.

The Hindoo shrine which is mos'
known In Europe is that Of Jugger'
naut, or Jagannath. Who has mol
heard of this car, and the human
beings who threw themselves undel
| its ponderous wheels? A few words
on this celebrated shrine may there
fore be appropriately given here
more especially as the utmost ab,
surdity has been written in regard
to it. The temple is situated IN
PJoree, or Juggernaut, in the pro
vince of Orissa, about $50 miles
southwest Of Calcutta, and is chiefly
remarkable for the idol contained IN
it, which is annually dragged IN It's
car IN procession. The town IN
which this celebrated procession is
held is mean, dirty and badly built.
The streets are crowded with sacred
oxen, who are trained to attack
with their horns, Gin a quiet and
measured ways" any iItruders On the
sacredness of the route. Various
monkeys may be seen perched On
the houses, walls and trees; and IN
the Wster tanks are tame crocO lilies,
which are objects of worship. "Fhe
pagoda of Juggernaut," writes an
ye-wltness, sis at the end OF the
principal street, which is very VIDE,
and composed almost entirely OF re-
ligious establishments, with low
pillersd verandhs in front, and plsn>
tati0ns of trees interposed. The
temple stands within square space
inclosed by a lofty stone wall, and
measures $50 feet on side. The
principal entrancels crowded with
the baskets and umbrellas OF the
natives, and the huts of dried leaves
and branches which serve as a shel>
ter for a number of fakirs, and it
opens on q vestibule with pyra
midal roof. On each side is q mon
strous figure, representing & kind of
crowned lion. In front is a column
Of dark colored basslt, o. very light
and elegant proportions, surmoun-
ted by the figure Of the monkey god
Hanuman, the Indian Mercury.
The great pagoA rises from 20 feet
high within she outer Enclosure;
from a base 20 feet square it rises
100 feet, tapering slightly from bot
tom to Top, ana rounded off on the
upper part, being crowned with
kind Of dome.
The Il temple is dedicated to
Krishha, who is the principal object
of worship in the character OF Jug
germ ant, and IS an incarnation of
VishDOo, but is held in joint tenantcy
with silva and with Sabhadrs, the
supposed sister and wife of S va.
There are idols of each, consisting
Of rudely sculptured blocks OF wood
about six feet III height, surmounted
by frighuul representations Of the
human countepance. krishna is
dark blue, silva white, and Sabhsdra
of g yel!oWIsh hue. In front OF the
altar on Whic these idols are placed
is figure Of the hawk god Garounda
A repast is daily served to these
idols; it consists Of 40 pounds rice
225 pounds -four, $50 pounds Carl
fed butter (ghee), 1871 pounds trescle,
65 pounds vegetables, ls6 pounds
milk, "a pounds spices, "a pounds
salt, and Il pounds oil. These ar
ticles Of food certainly seem suf~
fcient, not only to satisfy tie appe-
tite Of the idols, whatever may be
the capacity OF their divine stoms
achs, but even those who belong to
toe establishment. During the meal
the dOors are closed against sll but
a few favored individuals sanctioned
by long fasis aud habit of ascetic-
ism and penitence. Loud strains IF
the peculiar noise, better appreciated
by the Oriental than western care,
fill the air and drown all other
sounds while the gods are consum.
ing their daily rations.
On the day Of the procession two
stout cables are attached to the car.
These are seized by thousands, or IS
many as can obtain a place to hold
by. At one time so eager were the
devotees TO share in the honor of
dragging the idol's car, that the
greatest and best men Of the town
struggled with each other to obtain
hold upon the ropes, and, to use
Bruton'S language: "They are 80
eager and greedy to draw it that
whatsoever by shouldering, crowd
ing, showing, heaving, thrusting, or
in any insolent way can but lay
hand upon the rope they think
themselves blessed and happy; and
when it is going along the city there
are many that will offer Themselves
as a sacrifice to the Idol, and desper-
asely lie down on the ground thst
the chariot wheels mfy ron over
them, whereby they are killed out
right; some get broken arms, some
broken legs, SO that many OF them
are destroyed, and think 10 merit
heaven"
Such was the idol of Juggernaut
and it's procession in former times.
Of late years its popularity has
vastly fallen off. The Hindoo is
beginning to be wonderfully cau>
tious eff tina: swaTthy skln Of his,
even in the service OF the gods, with
view to his salvation. On late
occasion, indeed, instead Of thous
ands of devotees struggling to get ct
the ropes, not single hand assisted
to drag the car along; and to the