The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-12
HINDOO GODS.
Where the Ueilest Monsters Conceivable Are
the HolIest.

Where the UglIest Monsters Conceivable Are
the Holiest.
Thomas Stevens, in Courier-JournaI.
One sees Brahma occasionally in the East
pictured IN heroic size on the walls of houses. or
ae an IDOL of wood or stone, occupying a shed at
one end OF q village with bis wife Sarasvati. He
il also, of course, to be seen in temples, but not
often. Sarasvati is always represented as q
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 dis
tinctly say a rib. When this hap
pened Brahma was Possessed Of but
one head. Beholding this lovely, newly created
companion, however. he at once became smittsn
with her charms. Sarasvsti, being a shame
faced maiden, modestly turned away TO escape
his gaze. { Brahma's wish to still behold her,
q second head issued from his body. AS the
damsel skipped around TO another position, o
third head appeared. and then . fourth. At
length. in her Embarrassment, Sarasvati sprang
into the sky. Not TO be outdons. however,
Brahma instantly produced q fifth head. This
fifth head was subsequently, struck of by an
other god In a dispute. which leaves him only
four. Theidol with the leopardskin l~oincloth. the
snakes about his head and neck. and the trident
in his hand. is Siva. the destroyer. He 10 one
OF the most familiar idols one sees in India AS
you approach an Indian village, the first build
ing by the roadside is apt to be a shed like
shrine. sheltering an idol Of silva about the size
OF q man. He is painted red. with q blue neck,
ana sometimes garnlshed profusely with bits OF
gold or silver tinsel, pasted here and there about
his figure This bright paint and tinsel givee
the idol a rather cheap and tawdry appearance.
suggestive OF cheap show. One often sees this
same silva in the larger and more prosperous
villages. p~lastered over with strips Of tinsel so
thickly as TO be well nigh unacceptable.
He il generally represented as shedding the
blood of a demon who has been interrupting the
austerities OF his worshipers. Sometimes, howe
ever. this idol is q fantastic character. half male
and half female, supposed to illustrate the univ
Of the gods. At some snrines l have seen him
sitting in garish state as a mendicant- In
Whatever form the idol appears there 10 always
q third eye 10 the middle Of the forehead, q
cobra about his neck and another on his head.
1t is the followers o. this idol. also, who used
to practice such terrible ~cruelties upon them.
selves, before the custom was prohibited by the
British government. As everybody knowA
fakirs by the hundred used to wander about
India practicing austerities of the most revolt
ing character. Some used to 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 10
il for annoying them while engaged in these
practices that he is wreskine his vengeance on
the demon This idol figures moro conspicu-
ously in the religions life OF the Hindoos to-day
than any other. He Is said TO be known by q
thousand different names, and to be worshiped
in many forms.