Okolona messenger., 1903-03-18
PROFESSIONAL eODPAREHTs.
Tha Hinau Guru Malsss n . Business
fo Serve as Godfather 90 as many
ChuaFen as PossIbls.


In the United States almost AL pro-
fessions have been specialized. There
are colleges of agriculture, mining,
psychology. and what not; but IL has
been reserved for the Hindo people
20 far TO recognise the godfather as
q distinct calling; TO inaugurate col
leges of godfathers, with professor
nhipa, students, and handsome prizes
for those most successful In this
unique field of strenuous endeavor.
Long ago there were established %
various places in India colleges OF
grand gurus OF godfathers. They
were perhaps more In the nature OF
seminaries or retreats than colleges
proper, but nevertheless the line Of
work taken up was that Of htting
ones self for what we can best un-
derstand by the term godfather, says
the Boston Globe.
Not that anyone or everyone could
enter these colleges, because in the
first place the profession Of godfar
ther, like that Of most others in In-
dia, was, and is, strictly hereditary,
and In the second they were reserved
for the godfathers Of the great.
kings, princes, and so forth. Still,
for the instruction Of godfathers
they were so intended and so Re.
main.
These godfathers, whether grand or
ordinary, occupy q most curious and
interesting place In the Indian FAM
Fly. It's hereditary nature is explained
in the manner that II Dat is godfa-
ther to Das, OATS eldest son becomes
godfather to Das' eldest son, and 50
on for generations. But as the Oats
could scarcely expect 20 live on one
family of Das', the former have nu-
merous other godchildren bearing the
same relative position, and over
whom they exercise a lifelong inhu-
ence.
In fact, the Hindu godfather spends
bis life going on q circuit Of his god
children, and az the latter often live
far apart, the period Of a circuit may
take up a year or longer. But wheth-
or he be the godfather TO a prince or
9 farmer, his reception Is always ct
tended with the highest honors. In
the old days the grand godfatherS
travelled IN great style, with escorts
of soldiers, bands Of music, parade
of gorgeously capariSoned elephants
and horses, etc. They often exercised
great political, as well as confidential
powers, and sometimes rose to be-
come ministers of state.
The ordinary godfather still goes
his rounds according TO the wealth
and position Of his clients or god
children in OK carts or on foot, as
the case may be. In general his re-
ception among the middle and lower
classes is as follows: When he ap-
proaches his godson's house, notice
Of the event having been sent on In
advance, the wife comes forth with
q bowl Of water and greets her hus-
bands godfather with the saluta-
ton: 20, holy guru, live fOreveri"
Then she reverently kneels and
proceeds to wash the godfather's
feet, afterward drying them with the
linen cloth which covers her head.
After this she performs what we
would regard as not q very nice act.
She drinks some of the dirty water
and reserves the rest as q talisman
against evil spirits.
On entering the house the godfa-
ther is met by his godson with pres
ents and the probably not very sim
cerely expressed hope that he win
never 60 away again. But still, as
long as he stays, be is treated as The
most honored guest. During his visit
he settles up any family troubles, ar-
ranges with other godfathers the
marriages Of his godson's children,
accepting fees on each transaction.
Then, when he pleases, he goes his
way TO his next godson's abode with
money and provisions to provide FOG
bis journey.
Thus does the Hindu godfather
make lucrative profession Of what
is to us a sentimental calling. His
gifts, instead Of silverware, valuable
trinkets, etc, partake of the nature
OF flowers from some altar, sacred
ashes or crumbs from his food, all of
which are kept as relics.
AS his benediction is supposed 70
remove all sins, and his curse is re-
garded as a calamity, It viii be un.
derstood how very much more impor-
tant a persopage he is than his coun-
tsrpart in an occidental family.