The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-08-07
GODS OF THE HlNpoos.
Worshipped Monstrosities that arc Holy In
Proportion to Their Hideousncss.

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,
writes Thomas Stephens in the Courier
journal. He is also, of course, TO be
seen in temples, but not often. Sar-
asvati Is always represented ms a
beautiful young woman presenting
flower to her husband. Like our own
Mother Eve, she was created out of
portion of her husbands body, al
though the Hindoos do not distinctly
say rib. When this happened
Brahma was possessed of but one
head. Boholding this lovely, newly
created companion, however, he at
once became smitton with her charms.
Sarasvati being a shame-faCed maiden,
modestly turned away to escape his
gaze. At Brahma's wish to still behold
her, a second head issued from his body.
As the damsel skipped around TO
another position, third head APP
peared, and then a fourth. At length,
in her embarrassment, Sarasvati sprang
into the sky. Not to be outdone, how
ever, Brahma instantly produced fifth
lGtus lillS Hltt uttu was SuuSctilGul
ly struck Off by another god in dis
pute, which leaves him only four. The
idol with the leopard skin loincloth,
the snakes about his head and neck
and the trident in his hand, is Sivi, the
destroyer. He is one of the most
familiar idols one sees in India.
As you approach an Indian village the
first building by the roadside is apt to be
a 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 and silver tinsel, pasted
here and there about his figure. This
bright paint gives the idol rather
cheap and tawdry appearance, sugges-
tive of a cheap show. One often sees
this Same silva in the larger and more
prosperous villages, plastered over with
strips of tinsel so thickly as to be well
nigh irrecognizable.
He is generally represented as she'd
ding the blood of demon who had
been interrupting the austerities of his
worshippers. Sometimes, however, his
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 mendicant. In whichever form
the idol appears there is always third
eye in the middle of the forehead, o
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 everybody knows
faikrs by the hundred used to wander
about India practicing austerities of
the most revolving 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 worshippers of this idol, and
it is for annoying them while engaged
in these practices that he is wreaklng
his vengeance on the demon. This
idol figures more conspicously 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 worshipped in many forms.