Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-11-23
UGLY HINDOO GODS.
Where the Most Repulslve Monsters r
Rible Are the HOliest.

sible 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 shed at one end
Of village with his wife Sarlsvati.
lie 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
If her husbands body, although the
tIindoos do not distinctly say rib.
When this happened Brahma was
possessed of but one head. Beholding
his lovely, newly-created companion,
however, he at once became smitten
With her charms. Sarasvati, being a
hamefaced maiden, modestly turned
way to escape his gaze. At Brahma's
wish to still behold her. second
read issued from his body. AS the
lamsel skipped around to another posi-
ion, a third head appeared, and then
= fourth. At length, in her elnbar-
'assment, Sarasvati sprang into the
ky. Not to be outdone, however.
3rahma instantly produced a fifth
lead This fifth head was subsequent
y struck off by another god in dis
)ute, 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
silva, the destroyer. He is one of the
most familiar idols one sees in India
As you approach an Indian village, the
irst building by the roadside is apt to
De shed-like shrine, sheltering an
dol of silva about the size of man.
lie is painted red, with blue neck,
md sometimes garnished profusely
With bits of gold or silver tinsel.
pasted here and there about his figure.
This bright paint and tinsil gives
he idol rather cheap and tawdry APP
pearance, suggestive of cheap show.
one often sees this same silva ia the
anger and more prosperous villages,
,lastered over with strips of tinsel SO
hickly as to be well nigh unrecogniza.
BILE.
He is generally represented as shed.
ling the blood of a demon who has
been interrupting the austerities of his
Horshipers. Sometimes, however, this
dol is fantastic character, half male
md half female, supposed to illustrate
The unity of the gods. At some shrines
have seen him sitting in garish state
Us mendicant. In whatever form
ehe Idol appears there is always a third
EYE In the middle of the forehead. =
cobra about his neck and another or
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 useo
10 force iron hooks in the muscles O.
The back and hang suspended in mid.
ar Tor days. Some would jump on
sharp spikes or hold their limbs in on
position till they withered; others
would sit and gaze into the sun until
they lost their sight. All these
fanatics were the worshipers of thi,
IDOL and it is for annoying them Will,
engaged In these practices that he i.
wreaking his vengeance on the demon
inns ldoi figures more conspicuously il
ne religious life of the Hindoos to-da,
than any other. He is said to be know,
~ II thousand different names, and t,
De worshiped in many forms. Cor
LoutScttie Courier-Journal.