Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-09-27
UGLY HINDoO GODS.

Where the Most RepuIsIve Monsters Pos
sfble Are the Hottest.
One sees Brahma occasionally in the
East pictured in heroic size on the
walls of houses, or as an idol of wood
or stone, occupying a shed at one end
of village with his wife Sarasvati.
He is also, of course, to be seen in
temples, but not often. Sarasvati is
always represented as beautiful
young woman presenting a flower to
her husband. Like our own mother
Eve, she was created out of a portion
of her husbands body, although the
Hindoos do not distinctly say rib.
When this happened Brahma was
possessed of but one head. Beho1ding
this lovely, newly-created companion,
however, he at once became smitten
with her charms. Sarasvati, being
shamefaced maiden, modestly turned
away to escape his gaze. At Brahma's
wish to still behold her. second
head issued from his body. AS the
damsel skipped around to another posi-
ton, third head appeared, and then
fourth. At length, in her embar-
AebooiA1Shc, 0lI CS FdtA 1ltO UIiS
sky. Not to be outdone, however,
Brahma instantly produced fifth
head. This fifth head was subsequent
ly struck off by another god in dis
pute, which leaves him only four.
The idol with the leopard-skin loin-
cloth, the snakes about his head and
back, and the trident in his hand, is
Six,o fhA IL Sc of ~,
most familiar idols one sees in India.
As you approach an Indian village, the
first building by the roadside is apt to
be shed-like shrine, sheltering an
idol of silva about the size of man.
He is painted red, with blue neck,
and sometimes garnished profusely
with bits of gold or silver tinsel,
pasted here and there about his figure.
This bright paint and tinsil gives
the idol a rather cheap and tawdry ap-
pearance, suggestive of cheap show.
One often sees this same silva in the
larger and more prosperous villages,
plastered over with strips of tinseI SO
thickly as to be we'll nigh unrecogniza-
BILE
AAO 40 SShOh dAAy ACpA CSOhOOo ctO oAOu~
ding the blood of a demon who has
been interrupting the austerities of his
worshipers- Sometimes, however, this
idol is a fantastic character, half male
and half female, supposed to illustrate
the unity of the gods. At some shrines
/ have seen him sitting in garish state
as a mendicant. In whatever form
@lo IDl ,.,>oo,S o,,, &c oil h
eye in the middle of the forehead, a
cobra about his neck and another on
his head.
1t is the followers of this idol, also,
who used to practice such terrible
cruelties upon themselves, before the
custom was prohibited by the British
Government As every body knows,
fal1irs by the hundred used to wander
about India practicing austerities of the
most revolving character. Some used
to force iron hooks u the muscles of
the back and hang suspended in mid
air for days. Some would jump on
sharp spikes or hold their limbs in one
position till they withered; others
would sit and gaze into the sun until
Lney 1oSI Gne1r SlSHI AL LHeSe
fanatics were the worshipers of this
idol, and it is for annoying them while
engaged in these practices that he is
wreaking his vengeance on the demon.
This idol figures more conspicuously in
the religious life of the Hindoos to-day
than any other. He is said to be known
by thousand different names, and to
be worshiped in many forms.
Louisville C0urier-JotsrnaE.