Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-08

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under the right am, and beor the
frontal marks, the color or shane ot
which indicates the deity to whom thew
are especially devoted.
India is pre-eminently a land of nil.
grimage. Benares, on account of its
reputed sancity and somewhat central
position, IS the most frequented SPOT
Pilgrims flock into the city at all sea
sons, but es ecially during the first and
last two months of the year. Tbey
come from the surrounding provinces
ana from the most distant parts of The
nd. There is no mistaking them, for
their weary, toil-worn appearance and
anxious, yet hopeful expression as they
Wend their way along the Panch
hosi, or any of the main roads lead
ing into the city, plainly indicate who
they are and what they seek.
In the intense heat of an Indian Sum-
mer men have been known to PROSTATE
their persons On the dusty road and to
stretch ont their arms to mark the
point on the road to which their fingers
reached. Covered from head to foot
with the dust of the road they rise and
repeat the process. For weeks, and in
some cases for months, even, the pill
grlms repeat this process as they meas
ure with their own persons the whole
OF the way from their distant homes to
Benares. Some of these strange
journeys extend over hundreds of
miles. One of the saddest sights i'm
aginable Is to behold an aged man, per-
haps rich through dishonesty and ex-
tortion, or a delu led devotee or a worn
out sensualist, from some remote prov
lnce of India making des perate efforts
to progress on his way, fearing lest the
little strength left in him should fail
ere his journey Is ended and sufficient
merit secured in the sacred city to
connteract the consequences of an i'll
spent life.
The writer has seen a middle-aged
man with his right arm stretched ont
above his head and never removed
from that position. When he began
the pilgrim life, he made vow to some
god or goddess that he would thus
sacrifice his arm and give part of his
body for the sin of his soul. The arm
was raised and by the power of that
strange vow and his indomitable will it
was forcibly kept in that position till
1t became rigid, useless, and withered
in appearance like the dry, leatiess
branch that it resembles.
Benares is truly city of idolatry.
Temples and shrines, in ali some l, 600.
are seen in every street, alley, and
bazaar. Some stand alone, others are
placed in line or grouped around one
another, in order or no order. The
idols are of various materials-stotie,
earth, wood, marble, iron, brass, silver,
gold-of all sizes and shapes, diminu-
tive and colossal, human, bestial, nat
urhl, and unnatural. Most of them are
grotesque, huge, badly formed, and in
decent. Many living creatures, such
as bulls, peacocks, monkeys, and SER
pents are seen In the temples and
houses; they are superstit1ously re-
vered, if not reverently worshiped.
Although the temples in Benares are
numerous, they are, with scarcely an
exception, modern. Many of them
ere believed to be on the sites of an
cient temples that have long since
passed away. Probably not one OF
them dates earlier than the Mohamme-
dan invasion of India. The temples of
Benares and nearly of them in Northern
India are small and unimposing when
compared with the grand and stately
temples of Southern India. The tenn
pie of Bisheshmar, Lord of the Uni
ably the largest, and certainly the
most popular of all the sacred city S
temples. 1t occupies one corner of a
large square, the greater portion of
which Is an elevated platform. On one
side of it stands the principal mosque
of the city. 1t is built on the site
and partly with the materials of the an
cient temple of Bishesmar, which was
destroyed by the order of ArungZeb.
A high and massive wall surrounds the
temple, and in the midst of the quad
raugle Is a raised platform with IA roof,
above which are images in sandstone,
marble, and brass of various gods and
i goddesses, who form, as it were, the
conrt of Bisheshmar.
The India metal workers and those
of their craft hnve their shops near the
gate Of the temple. Their idols can be
bought according to weight, or work
manship, and not n little wrangllng
may be heard rs the seller praises and
the buyer disparag S, the image of tine
god that both of them worship. At all
hours of the day, but specially from .
A. Nj. to u, crowds of worshipers
pass in and out of the temple. Each
one comes mt the hour most convenient
for himself, as there is no appointed
time, and worships any or all of The
gods as he may please. Each worship
er in this temple must of necessity
pay homage to Bisheshmar, the presid-
ing deity.
Many women of middle life or aged
are to be seen in the temple. Unlike
the mon, they are decently clothed.
Bapds of pilgrims who speak strange
tongues are conducted through the
temple by paid guide, who directs
them IN the ceremonies that must be
performed. and insists upon the offer
lings that must be made to insure the
full spiritual benefit of visit to the
sacred city. Men and women move
around coniusedly, noisily mutterlng
prayers, proclaimlng the names OF
gods, conversing, feven quarrellng.
A sacred bull or two may be seen NOV
ing around in the crowd, themselves
worshiped as gods, while, unconscious
of the honors paid to them, they eat
the offerings made to other gods. Nine
bells are rung from the roof OF the
templa. So thni each worshiper may
call the attention of the god himself
The almos. inccssant ringing OF these
bells IS be wiidering.
In the same street and not far from
the temple OF Bisheshmar is another,
the temple OF Anapurna, the goddess OF
plenty, erected about .l7O years ago.
The temple stands on raised platfroni
built in the centre of quadrangle, sur
rounded by high wells, on the inner
side OF which are oloisters. a dome,
supported by pillars, and n small tower
are also parts of the temple. Elaborate
carvings and fantastic paintings OF
plants, flowers, fruits, and birds are
seen in profusion. There are four
shrlnes. In one is an Image of Gsnesh,
the god OF wisdom in human shape,
but with the head of an elephant. In
another is Hanuman, the monkey