The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-19

grown rich in his occupation.
The particular body 1 saw waiting to be
cremated was that of a man OF the ordin-
airy class. The unfortunate eldest son
spent nearly an hour before he obtained
his fire at the price he judged he should
pay. The old fre-seIler demanded fifty
rupees. The man offered five. The vender
of sacred lights came down to ten, the
man went up two, and thus they haggled
for an hour, soundly abusing each other,
while the corpse and the mourners waited.
Finally the pair settled their disagree
ment and compromised upon fourteen ru-
pees. The price asked by the fire-seller is
based or the fortune of the deceased. A
light for Maharajah who died recently
was estimated as worth zone thousand ru-
PEGS and a healthy elephant"
When the bargain was finally closed the
bereaved appeared with his dearly pur-
chased light and set fire to the human pie.
I can still hear the horrible cracking of
the fagots and the sizzling of the human
flesh as the flames shot up in the air, for
the body burned like wax This rude Gre
nation is far more healthful for the living
than the method of dispOsing of the dead
at Bombay, where the bodies are exposed
and the swarming vultures devour them.
This is the only concession the English
have been able to gain. Formerly the rel
atives defended their dead from these
winged scavengers, and it was only with
great difficulty that the Government in
duced the natives to leave the birds IN
molested around the Tower Of Silence"
as this extraordinary tomb is called
The temples at Benares are more curious
than beautiful, and the dirtiest 1 think in
the world. In the Golden Temple the
priests dress in leopards' skins and of
course, present a wild appearance Near
this temple is the famous Indian well Of
knowledge" into which a Hindu god
jumped when his temple was invaded by
the MahOmetans.
''Yogis'' or holy men are numerous in
and about Renares. The Hindu religion
teaches that by denying the flesh the soul
arrives at such ctate of sanctfty that
even in this life it may communicate with
the unseen world and control humanity
To reach the first stage of perfection takes
some twelve years Of rigorous self-denial.
The yogi has to guide him a sort of
teacher who is supposed to be inspired by
the self-denial he prescribes for his pupil.
The holy man I saw was a remarkable
looking fellow with long curling hair that
hung down his back. His body was com
pletely nude, although a crisp cold wind
blew around US. He was sitting cross-ieg-
ged and in deep prayer and not muscle
moved during the hour 1 watched him. He
was as still as marble. For food he de-
pended upon the fruit and honey brought
him by his assistant and the pious pi ,grims
who pass Day after day the genuine
yogi remains in the same position de-
voting himself to pious contemplation,
and although it is probable that at times
he manages to escape observation and
snatch few hours repose it is difficult to
elude the peoples vigilance who watch
with jealous interest the advancement to-
wards the sanctifed state
One of the most extraordinary temples
! at Benares is the Cow Temple" where
devout worship is paid to mild-eyed
'bcssies," who comfortably "chew their
cud" While the people are PROSTATE before
them. Near the Cow Temple" = the
| Monkey Temple" a place literally
swarming with monkeys and filthy beyond
| dc: cription. I found the sarr:d animals
We're as fond Of peanuts as the ordinary
| menagerie animal Or the organ grinders
Pet, and in fact vastly preferred nuts or
sweets to incense. Certainly the homage
paid to our supposed ancestors bv thA I'm
Jus would have satisfied Darwi himself
I spent my last hour at Benares with the
great Hindu saint. Bhaskaranand Saras-
watt Swami, whom found to be a most
amiable old man, almost guilty of worldly
vanity in the evident pride he took in re-
lating his experiences with distinguished
visitors who came from all over the world
to see him. He has kept a list of these
| names in an autograph album, and I saw
inscribed the signatures of many promin-
! ent Americans. The holy man is supposed
to work miracles, and is sometimes filled
with the spirit of prOphesy. This particl-
lar spirit did not move him during my Wis
it, but he conversed interestingly with me
| upon the philosophy of life and real hap
piness-the need for the exercise of faith
and the spiritual projections possible to
obtain by rigorous self-denial.
Swami is an interesting study for all
people who take an interest in the intel
lectual and moral state of India. and to
whom the growth Of philosophy and relig-
| ion anywhere is always a matter OF consid-
Grafton. He told me he had been perfectly
happy with his spiritual state since he dis
! covered the philosophy of a contemplative
life.
Born Of noble parents. Swami was
| brought up in luxury. but at an early age
! he became convinced that the world and
! its pleasures were mere dreams; that it
! was difficult to attain real happiness or
/ salvation by following the ways of the
world.
| Forsaking home, position and family. he
/ accomplished a series Of holy piIgrimages,
which are the routes leading to sanctifca-
| ton. according to Hindu doctrines
The difficulties of travelling all over In
dia. with its vast recesses. its jungies. its
hills and dales. seas and rivers. by a
'Sanysasi' (holy Pilgrim can better be
! imagined than described. Alone, without
money. clad only in a single garment.
Swami accomplished his tasks and became
initiated into the holy order Of ''Sanayas."
! He then spent thirteen years in penance
/ and at last settled in Benares-in the
/ Anandbag. or Garden OF Happiness" In
/ this seclusion he has found ample time 10
| devote TO the contemplation of God. He
wears no clothing; the earth is his bed;
the gifts Of pilgrims his food For pious
/ Hindus come from far and near to see him
and bring him honey. milk and fruit. his
/ only subsistence. His emaciated form in
! naked state has become an object OF ven
Grafton for the faithful Sitting under the
shade of a tree, he receives his guests. ac-
I ceptinS their homage ard giving encour-
agement and spiritual comfort 70 all His
face indicates that he is a stranger 10 s0r
! NV L. i ? lnNar ~ tl---a- III III lc.,.