The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-06-23
A HTND0O TEMPLE.
RITES AND CEREMONIES BY WHICH
THE IDOL Is HoNoRED.

The Hindoo temple of any size or pre-
tentions is a complex institution. 1t is
group of buildings inclosed within one
or more walls. 1t possesses certain priv |
ileges, granted by native rulers in days
gone by and still respected by the pres
ent government. 1t enjoys what may
almost be termed 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
to the office.
These have power over an enormous
wealth. Under INSCRIPTIONS trustees
valuable jewels have disappeared or been
replaced with glass. Pots of silver and
gold coin have been reflled with copper
Rich lands have been let at nominal
rent to their relatives, and offerings in
tended for the temple have been appro-
priated personally. Occasionally trus-
tee is prosecuted for his dishonest prac-
tees, but it is not often that he is pun
ished
The erection of the Hindoo temple is
the work of slow system of evolution.
Some holy man perhaps dies on the spot,
or he has an ecstatic vision of the god in
one of the incarnations. The space is in
vested with sanctity and an image set
up to the deity The landowner straight
way builds o small shelter over it to
propitiate the god in his favor. The
ground around tho edifce is next in
closed with fence
j / Pyy and Nv, tba cbaJ to ,o,,o,,o1 o,l
something moro pretentious and lasting
erected. The dewan, or prime minister
of the province, makes pilgrimage to
the shrine and leaves rich Offering in
the hands of the Brahmans, who have
instituted themselves as receivers, trus-
lees and ministrants. More pilgrims
ZONE; offerings in kind as well as in
jewels and money pour in, and new
buildings are erected. Courts, halls,
galleries, a tank, pillared platforms,
walls. gateways and towers slowly grow
around the shrine-the center point of
the editice. Other shrines of affiliated
deities may group themselves near the
original, but the mulasthanum is al
ways tho same.
1t holds the image of the deity to
whom the temple is dedicated, and it is
tine scene of daily ceremonies. At all
risks it must be jealousy guarded
against the intrusion of any but tho
twice born. When Give took the temple
of Srieungham-the largest in southern
India, and powerful stronghold in
those days-2,o00 fierce Rajputs stood
before the door of the Mulasthanum, de-
claring that the Europeans should only
pass in over their dead bodies. Their
superstitions were respected, and Give
left the fanatics in possession.
In preserving the integrity of the sa-
cred shrine the Hindoo has something
more to consider than his religious scru-
pies. The restitution of the divine or
. lnantric essence is very expensive and
, intricate process, requiring large sums
Of money for its different rites. At Vel
lore there is a handsome temple which
was desecrated years ago by the Mo
hammedans, They killed COW in the
Mulusthanum. The building now stands
: empty and unoccupied and the Euro.
pean may 10 into outer and inner court
as he pleases. The Mulasthanum is u
small hall, richly decorated with cary.
: ings. 1t contains nothing but stone
3. dais, on the face of which is tortoise
in outline.
The image rested formerly on the tor
toise, There is small gutter around
a the platform, which conducted the sa-
q cred water-used for the ablutions of the
t idol-into reservoir outside. Pilgrims
: drank of this water eagerly in belief of
I its miraculous powers of healing and
: publication. The temple would proba-
| bly, be used again by Hindoo worship
ers If money were forthcoming suffi.
cient TO restore the divine essence.
The idol is not usually made of wood
:. or stone. 1t is nodded in an amalgam
7 of five metals-gold, silver, brass, cop.
II per and lead. In sizo it is smaller than
the human figure, 1t is not called q
;, Swami until tho mantric essence has
been infused into it by the proper cere
l. monies. These are performed by tho
n Brahmans, who claim the power Of
& placing tho essence in any object, ami
mate or inanimate that they choose
l. Sometimes the object is man, tht
D. chief trustee or "Moktesoor." He i.
then said to be divine, aud is called
Il f'Swami," and moreover, is worshipet
4 as god. The daily ritual which con
y. eer.s only the idol, takes place insid,
tho shrine at intervals during the day
10 No worshipers IRE present excep
. those who are taking part in the func
ton The image is tended in every mi
mute particular as though it were liv
4 ing human being. Nothing is omitted
ic 1t is washed with water from tn
sacred tank. 1t is dressed and fed ]
is supposed to take pleasure in the con-
pany Of the dancing girls; it sleeps an
:, wakes, and finally is put TO bed. Dun
-. ing its toilet hymns of praise are sung
q. lamps arc lighted. camphor and incens
IS burned, and the toIntom is frcquentl
70 introduced. Part of the revenue of tn
- temple pays for all OF this, and Erca
a many Brahmins find their occupatio
and their living in it.
The ritual Of tho festival is niue
mere imposing. The image is coverc
-. with plates Of gold and loaded with jew
~ els. Ii is carried in procession upon
nj huge car, surmounted with a throne {
Is silver. 1t may now appear before I'll
ii. eyes of all. and 1t makes slow an
nd magnificent journey around the ontC
courts OF the temple-which are open {
all casts-and through the town. Offc
iEgs in kind and in money and jewc
ng are received. The dancing girls are I
~ he seen, their charms enhanced by rio
=, silk and gold; they are tho daughter
- and wives of the god, and tho childro
.et u the devil. The value Of their charm
10 goes 10 swell the oifertory considerabl,
-ChamDer| Journal.
Bows aud Arrows in u Modern Battle
IN. Many readers will be as much su
i6t, priscd as | was in learning that at Il
is battle Of Leipsic tho Russians brougl
IN into the field numbers of Baskir Tarta
who were armed only with bows and a
rows. So we read in General Marriott
Memoirs" written by himself. II
90, general was himself wounded by an a
W. -o1u in the hnttln-Nntes and Dunrins