The Osceola times., 1888-10-06
UGLY hINDOO GODS.
Whore the Most Repulsive Monsters Pos.
sible Are the HOiiest.

Whore the MOST Repulsive MOuetcfD EOss
sible Are the HOiiest.
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 shed at one end
Of a village with his wife Sarasvau.
He Is also. Of course, to be seen In
temples, but not often. Sarasvati is
always represented as q beautiful
young woman presenting O flower TO
her husband. Like our own mother
Eve, she was created out Of portion
Of her husbands body. although the
Hindoos do not distinctly say rib.
When this happened Brahma was
possessed Of but one head. Beholding
this lovely. newly-created companion.
however, he at once became smitten
with her charms. Sarasvati. being Q
shamefaced maiden, modestly turned
away to escape his gaze. At Brahmss
wish TO still behold her. . second
head issued from his body. As the
damsel skipped around to another posi-
tion, a third head appeared. and then
fourth. At length, In her embar-
rassment, Sarasvati sprang into the
sky. Not to be outdone, however,
Brahma instantly produced tfth
head. This fifth head was subsequent
ly struck of 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. IL
silva, the destroyer He Is one Of the
most familiar idols one sees in 1ndia.
As you approach an Indian village, the
first building by the roadside Is apt to
be Q shed-like shrine, sheltering N
idol Of silva about the size Of a 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 unsil gives
the idol 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 tinsel 30
thickly as TO be we'll nigh unrecogniza-
BILE.
He is generally represented as she'd
ding the blood Of demon who has
been interrupting the austerities OF his
worshipers. Sometimes, however. this
idol is fantastic character, half male
and half female, supposed 10 illustrate
the unity OF the gods. At some shrines
/ have seen him sitting in garish state
as a mendicant In whatever form
the idol appears there Is always third
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.
fakirs by the hundred used to wander
about India practicing austerities Of the
most revolving character. Some used
10 force iron hooks in 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
they lost their sight. All these
fanatics were the worshipers Of this
idol, and 1t 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 HiIdoos to-day
than any other. He is said to be known
by thousand different names, and to
be worshiped in many forms.
LoaisVille COHrier-Journai.