The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-01-31

OF strength IN order to reach this
Golden temple, glad to die in or near
it, and have the ashes of their bodies
thrown into the Ganges.
We took carriage and went still
further on to see the Monkey temple,
so-called because in and around the
building monkeys abound and are kept
| as sacred. All evolutionists should Wis
it this temple devoted to the family
| from which their ancestors came.
| These monkeys chatter, and wink, and
climb. and look wise, and look silly,
and have full possession of the place.
| We were asked at the entrance of the
Monkey temple to take off our shoes
because of the sacredness of the place,
but small contribution placed in the
hands of an attendant resulted in a
permission to enter with our snoes on.
AS the Golden temple is dedicated to
silva, the poison god, this Monkey tenn
pie is dedicated to Siva's wife, a dietess,
that must be propitiated, or she will
disease, and blast, and destroy. For
centuries this spitfre has been wor-
shipped. She is the goddess of scold,
and slap, and termagancy. She is sup
posed to be a supernatural Aantippe;
hence to her are brought flowers an1
rice, and here and there the flowers are
spattered with the blood of goats slam
in sacrifice.
AS we walk to-day through this
Monkey temple we must not hit, or
tease, or hurt one of them. Two En-
glishmen years ago lost their lives by
the maltreatment of a monkey. Pass
ing along one of these Indian streets a
monkey did not soon enough get out of
the way, and one of these Englishmen
struck it with his cane. Immediately
the people and the priests gath
cred around these strangers, and
the public wrath increased until
the two Englishmen were pounded
to death for having struck a
monkey. No land in all the world so
reveres the monkey as India, as no
other land has a temple called after it.
One of the rajahs of India spent one
hundred thousand rupees in the mar
riage of two monkeys. A nuptial pro-
camels, elephants, tigers, cattle and
palanquins of richly dressed people.
Bands of music sounded the wedding
march. Dancing parties kept the
night sleepless. 1t was twelve days
before the monkey and monkeyess
were free from their round of gay
attentions. In no place but India
could such carnival have occurred.
But, after all, while we can not ap-
| nf ha 4ar nj ho
monkey is sacred to hilarity. l defy
anyone to watch monkey one minute
without laughter. Why was this
creature made? For the worlds amuse-
ment. The mission of some animals is
left doubtful and we can not see the
use of this or that quadruped, or this
or that insect. but the mission of the
ape is certain; all around the world it
entert,ins. Whether seated at the
top of this temple in India, or cutting
up its antics on the top of hand
organ, it stirs the sense of the ludi-
crous; ticlsles the diaphragm into each
innation; topples gravity into play,
and accomplishes that for which it was
created. The eagle, and the lion, and
the gazelle, and the robin no more GER
tainly have their mission than has the
monkey. But it implies low form OF
Hindooism when this embodied mimic
ry of the human race is lifted into wor-
ship. In one of the cities for the first
time in my life had an opportunity
of talking with fakir, or a Hindoo
who has renounced the world and
: lives on aims. He sat under
rough covering on a plat
form of brick. He was covered with
the ashes of the dead, and was at the
, time rubbing more of those ashes upor
his arms and legs. He understood
{ and spoke English. l said to him
How long have you been seated
) here?" He replied: Fifteen years.
. ''Have those idols which l see power
to help OF destroy?" He said: mo
: they only represent God. There is bu
one god"
: Question-When people die where d.
they go to?
5 Answer-That depends upon wha
; they have been doing. If they hav'
, been doing good, to heaven; if the,
} have been doing evil, to hell.
r Question-But do you not believe il
1 the transmigration of souls, and tina
t after death we go into birds or animal
l of some sort?
e Answer-Yes; the last creature
l man is thinking of while dying is tn
e one into which he will go. If he
S thinking of a bird he will g into
/ bird; and if he is thinking of COW h
r will go into cow.
e Question: thought you said that a
: death the soul goes to Heaven or hell
i Answer-He goes there by gradua
!, process. 1t may take him years an
n years
n Question-Can anyone become Hin
: doc? Could become Hindoo?
: Answer-Yes, you could.
l. Question-How could become Hir
Y doc?
s Answer-By doing as the Hindoo
o do.
S But as looked upon the poor, filth
/ wretch, bedaubing himself with til
ashes of the dead, thought the la.
!, thing on earth / would want to b.