Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-06-13
A HIND00 TEMPLE.
RITES AND CEREMONIES BY WHICH
THE IDOL IS HoNoRgo.


or more walls. Il possesses certain priv.
ilcgos. granted by native rulers in days
gone by and still respected hy the pres.
oni government II enjoys what may
almost b. termed q royal revenue from
houses, lands md offerings, aud It pos.
sosscs boards Of treasure In jewels, gold
and silver vessels and coins. The prop
erty Is In the hands Of trustees. who arr
elected or who claim an hereditary right
to tho office.
These hayo power over an enormous
wealth. Under INSCRIPTIONS trustees
valuable jcYels have disappeared or been
replaced with glass. Pots Of silver aud
gold coin have been rcfllcd with copper.
Rich lands hnyo been let NJ u nominal
rent 10 thoir relatives, and offerings in
tended for tho temple have boon nppro-
priatcd personally. Occasionally q trus.
tee Ia prosecuted for his dishonest prac.
iiccs, but 1t Is not often that ho ~ pun
ishod.
The erection Of tho Hinioo tomplo Is
tho work Of q slow system Of evolution.
Some holy man perhaps dies on thcspot,
or ho has an ccstatic vision Of tho god In
ono Of tho incarnations. Tho space Is In.
vested with sanctity and mn image sot
up 10 the doity. The landowner straight
way builds small shelter over It 10
propitiato tho god in his favor. The
ground around tho odihco is next in
closed with fonco.
by and by tho shod 10 removed and
something moro protcntious and lasting
erected. Tho dowan, or prime minister
OF the province, makes pilgrimage to
tho shrine aud leaves rich offering In
the hands OF tho lBrnhmans, who have
instituted themselves rs receivers, trus-
tees and ministrants. Moro pilgrims
como; offerings In kind as VOL as in
jowols and money pour IN, and now
buildings Gre erected. Courts, halls,
galleries. q tank, pillarcd platforms,
walls, gatoways and towers slowly grow
around the shriue-tho ccntor point Of
! tho edificc. Other shrines Of affiliated
dcitios may group Themselves near tho
original, but tho mulasthanum "a al.
ways the same.
It holds tho image Of the deity 10
whom the temple Is dedicated, and ~ Is
tho scene OF daily ceremonies. At all
risks 1t must DO jealously guarded
against tho intrusion Of any but the
twice born. Whom Give took the temple
I OF Srioungham-tho largest In southern
India, aud powerful stronghold iu
those days-2,0O fierce Rajputs stood
before tho door Of tho Mulasthanum, de.
claring that tho Europeans should only
pass in over their dead bodies. Their
supcrstitions woro respected, and Give
| left tho fanatics In possession.
In preserving the integrity Of the 50.
cred shrine the Hindoo has something
moro TO consider than his religious scru
pies. The restitution OF tho divine OF
mantric essence Is very expensive and
intricate process, requiring large sum,
Of money for It's different rites. At Vel
loro thoro Is a handsome temple which
was dcsccratod years ago by tho No
hnmmedans Thoy killed COW In IN,
Mulasthanum. Tho building now stands
empty and unocoupiOd and tho Euro
poan may so into outer and inner courI
rs no plcases. Tho Mulasthanun is Z
small hall, richly decorated with cary
ings. II contains nothing but slon,
dais, on tho face Of which is toriois,
in outline.
The image rested formerly on the tor
toiso. There Is small gutter aroun,
the platform, which conducted the "a
cred water-usod for the ahlutions Of IN
idol-into reservoir outside. Pilgrim
drank Of this water eagerly IN belief o
its miraculous powers OF healing an,
puriheation. The temple would proba
bly, DO used again by llindoo worship
ors " money woro forthcoming sun
ciont TO restore tho divine essence.
Tho idol Is not usually made Of WOO
or stone. II Is nodded In an amalgnI
Of five metnls-gold, silver, brass, COZ
per and lead. In size It 81 smaller tina
tho human figure. 1t is not called
swami until tho mautrio essence ha
: been infused into tho proper cor,
monies. These are performed by u
Drahmans, who claim tho power ,
placing tho essence in any object, an
mato or innnimato that they choos,
Sometimes tho object Is man, III
chief trustee or "Moktcsoor." Ilo
4 then said to be divine, and Is callo
+ "Swami," and moreover, is worshipu
q Us a god. Tho daily ritual which col
8 corrs only tho idol, takes place insid
o the shrine ut intervals during the dn,
: No worshipers arc present excel
those who arc taking part in the fun
ton. Tho iwago Is tended in every IN
nuto particular as though It were u liz
ing human being, Nothing is omitto,
Q Il Is washed with wator from Il
d sacred tank. It IL dressed and fed.
d Is supposed 10 iako pleasure In tho con
l. pany OF the dancing girls, 1t sleeps M
10 wakes, and finally is put to bed. Du
n ing It's toilet hymns OF praise are sun
u lamps are lighted, camphor and incon
d burned, and the tomtom Is frequent
" introduced. Part Of the revenue Of q
It temple pays for all Of this, and u grc
n many lrnhmins ind their occupati,
and their living in it.
The ritual Of the festival Is mu
moro impeding. Tho Image IS cover
with plates Of gold and loaded with io
~ OILS IL Is carried in procession upon
huge car, suimounted with throne
p silver. II may now appear before I
Il. eyes Of all, and Il makes slow a
OF magnificent journey around the out
~ courts OF the tenplo-wmch are open
y all casts-aud through the town. on
=. ings in kind aud IN money md jew,
\, !, are received. The dancing girls are
L