Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-06-11
A HINDOO TEMPLE.
RITES AND CEREMONIES BY WHICH
THE IDOL is HoNoRED.

promo Authority us Receivers. Trus-
tecu aud Ministranis-Thoir Methods.
Tho Eindoo templc Of any size or pro,
tontions is complex institution 1t is
group Of buildings inclosed within one
OF more walls. It possesses certain priv
ileges, granted by native rulers III days
gone by and still respected by the pres
ent government. 1t enjoys what may
almost he termed Il royal revenue from
houses, lands and offerings. and it pos
sesses boards of treasure in jewels, gold
and silver vessels and coins. The prop
erty is in the hands Of trustees. who are
elected or who claim an hereditary right
10 the Office.
These have power over an enormous
wealth. Under unscrupulors trustees
valuable jewels have disappeared or been
replaced with glass. Pots of silver and
gold coin have been relied with copper.
Rich lands have been let at a nominal
rent to their relatives, and offerings in
tended for the temple have been appro-
prieted personally. Occasionally trus-
teo is prosecuted for his dishonest prac-
tees, but 1t is not often that he is pun
ished.
The erection Of the Hindoo temple IS
tho work OF slow system Of evolution.
Some holy man perhaps dies on thospot,
or he has IN ecstatio,vision Of tho god in
ono of the incarnations. The space is in
vested with sanctity and an image set
up to the deity. Tho landowner straight
way builds small shelter over 1t 10
propitiate the god In his favor. The
ground around the cdifice is next m
closed with u fence.
BY and by the shed is removed and
something more pretentious and lasting
erected. The dcwan, or prime minister
OF tho province, makes o pilgrimage to
the shrine and leaves q rich Offering in
the hands Of the Drshmans, who have
instituted themselves as receivers. trus-
tees and ministrants More pilgrims
como; offerings In kind as we'll as IN
jewels and money pour in, and now
buildings arc erected. Courts, halls,
galleries. tank. pillared platforms,
walls, gateways and towers slowly grow
around the shrine-the center point of
tho edifice. Other shrines of affiliated
tleities may group themselves near tbs
original, but the niulasthanum Is al
ways the sumo.
1t holds the image Of the deity 30
whom the temple is dedicated. and 1t Is
the scene of daily ceremonies. At all
risks II must DO jealousy guarded
against the intrusion of any but the
twice born. When Clivo took the tcmple
Of Srieungham-the largest in southern
India. and powerful stronghold III
those days-e,O00 fierce Rajputs stood
before the door Of the Mulasthanum, do
claring that the Europeans should only
pass in over their dead bodies. Their
superstitio2s were respected. and Give
left the fanatics i'll possession
In preserving the integrity Of tho So
cred shrine tho Hindoo has something
more to consider than his religious scru-
pies. Tho restitution Of tho divine or
anantric essence is very expensive anil
antricato process, requiring large suE1s
of money for it's different rites. AT Vel
lore there is handsome temple which
was desecrated years ago by tho Mo
halnmeduns They killed q cow in the
lMulasthunuln. The building cow stands
empty and unoccupied and the Euro
pean may so into outer and inner court
as he pieases. Tho Mulasthanum is Il
small hall. richly decorated with carv-
ings. 1t contains nothing but stono
,lais, on the face Of which is tortoise
IN outline.
The image rested formerly on the tor
toise. There is a small gutter around
the platform. which conducted tho sa-
cred water-used for tho ADDITIONS of the
idoi-into reservoir outside. Pilgrims
drank Of this water eagerly in belief of
ats miraculous powers of healing and
publication. The temple would proba-
lily be usetl again by Hindoo worship
ers if money were Forthcoming sufli-
cient to restore the divine essence.
The idol is not usually made of wood
or stone. it is lncldcd in an amalgam
Of five metcls-gold, silver, brass, cop
per and lead In size it is smaller than
the human figure. 1t is not called
Swami" until the mantric essence has
been infused into it by the proper cere-
monies. These are performed by the
Brahnlans, who claim the power of
placing the essence in any object. AMI
mcto or inanilnate that they choose.
Sometimes the object is man, the
chief trustee or "Moktcsoor. He is
then said to he divine, and is called
Swami and moreover. is worshiped
as god. Tho daily ritual which con-
ccrcs only the idol. takes place inside
tho shrine ut intervals during the day.
No worshipers are present except
those who are taking part in the func-
ton. The image is tended liz every mi
nute particular as though it we're a liv-
ing human being. Nothing is omitted.
1t is washed with water from the
sacred tank. 1t is dressed and fed 1t
is supposed to take pleasure in the com
l,any of the dancing girls; it sleeps and
wakes. and finally IS put to bed. Dur
lug its toilet hynns Of praise are sung,
lamps are lighted. camphor and incense
burned, and the to,ntoIn is frequently
introduced. Part OF tho revenue Of the
temple pays for all OF this, and great
many Brahn,ins find their occupation
md their living in it.
!, The ritual Of the festival is much
moro imposing. The image Is covered
with plates OF gold and loaded with jew.
oils. It il carried in procession upon
huge car, surmounted with throne of
silver. It may now appear before the
eyes Of ell, and 1t makes slow and
magnificent journey around the outor
courts Of the temple-which are open to
all casts-and through the town. Offer
ingsi in kind and in money and jewels
are received. The dancing girls are 10
be seen, their charms enhanced by rich