The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-12-25
JuGoERNAuTs CHARIOT.
4 Sacred Vehicle Known - the Largest q
Its Kind in the World.

Sacred Vehicle Known - the Largest q
Its Kind In the World.
Juggernaut is variously pronounced ~
Jaggernath, Jumerguth and Jagannaths,
the last being the Sanscrit and probable
root of the many words of the same gem
eral construction, all Of which signify
Lord of the World" really ono of tho
names of Vishnu, the second god OF
the Hindoo triad. Juggernaut besides
being the name of the idol representing
Vishnu. is also the name of . town or
city in the Province Orissa In bengal.
British India, the city having taken its
name from Juggernaut's car and idol
enshrined within its walls. The ground
upon which the town is built is consid-
cred holy, and is held by the commune
ty Is common property, no tribute be-
ing exacted from any resident. other
than that he perform certain rites In
and about the temple, thus proving
himself Hindoo and believer in Wish
nu in his manifold forms The city
Of Juggernaut has about $4,000 in
habitants, but as there is religious
festival held there once every month,
the population constantly, within ito
borders falls but little short of $780,
The principal streets of the city runs
north and south for two and three
fourths miles-both sides being formed
by an almost unbroken line of Hindoo
temples, all of which are vershadoWed
by tho great Temple of Juggernaut,
which stands at the southern extremity
OF the main street. The great temple"
rises to height OF nearly 800 feet and
il surmounted by bronze-covered dome.
the point of which reaches 100 feet
higher. The wall which surrounds this
gigantic pagoda is a square with sides
$50 ieot in length; it is 10 feet thick at
the bottom and nearly 40 feet high. Be-
sides the great pagoda in honor OF Jug
gernaut, tho enclosure contains temples
and idols dedicated to dozens of tho
other Hindoo deities. All of the idols
are monstrous in design and frightful-
looking in appearance. That to Krishna
(another name for Juggernaut) is paint.
ed blue and has face hideous in the
extreme.
Besides Krishna or Juggernaut tive
others of tho idols are provided with i'm"
mense cars or chariots The car OF jug.
gernaut is thought to be the largest
wheeled vehicle that has yet been made
in the world. 1t is 3415 feet square at
tho base and 4311 feet in height, mount
ed on 1e wheels, each 61s feet in dame
ter. Once each year, at the great an
nual March festival, Juggernaut, mount
ed on the apex of his stately car, is tax
en- to house about ~ miles in the
country, where a female image is sup.
posed to be waiting to become his bride.
The removal of the chariot from tho
shrine to the country house being pro-
ceeding holy in the extreme. no ami
mails are used for drawing the chariot,
men, women and children only being
permitted to perform such righteous
services. On this occasion either five or
seven long ropes are attached to the
front of the car, the middle one having
been twisted from hair cut from tho
heads of female devotees. 1t was long
Q cherished belief in Christian coun-
tries that many pilgrims sacrificed them
selves upon these gala days, by falling
prone before the car and allowing tho
ponderous wheels to pass DER their
bodies. 1t is probable that the accounts
of these self-sacrifices have been too
highly colored, and that the great loss
of life upon such occasions, when thou
sands of frantic devotees are congre-
gated together, comes more from acct
dent than from desire to start for
Heaven from directly underneath tho
wheels of the holy car.-St Louis Re-