Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-28

Ill as Jaggernath, Jumergutha and
W. Jagannatha, the last being the San
scrit and probable root of the many
words of the same general construction, all OF
which signify Lord of the World" really
one of the names of Vishnu, the second God
of the Hndoo triad.
.Juggernaut, besides being the name OF the
idol representing vishnu, is also the name OF
town or city in the province Orissa, In Ben
gal British India, the city having taken its
name from Juggernauts car and idol en-
shrined within its walls.
The ground upon which the town is built
is considered holy, and is held by the Com
munity as common property, no tribute pelng
exacted from any resident other than that ne
nerform certain rites in and about the tenn
ple thus proving himself Hindoo and
believer in Vishnu in his manifold forms.
The city of Juggernaut has about 5O,OOo
inhabitants but, as there is religious festi-
val held there once every month, the popuia-
ton constantly within its borders falls but
little short of 10000. -,
The principal street of the city runs north
and south for two and three-fourth miles.
both sides being formed by an almost unbrok-
en- line of Hindoo temples, all of which are
overshadowed by the great temple OF jug
Rernaut, which stands at the southern ex-
tremity of the main street.
The great temple" rises to- height OF
nearly 300 feet and is surmounted by bronze
covered dome, the point Of which reaches l60
feet higher. The wall which surrounds this this
feet in length. 1t is eighteen feet thick at
the bottom and nearly forty feet high.
Besides the great pagoda in honor Of jug.
gernaut, the Enclosure contains temples and
IDOLS dedicated to dozens of the other Hindoo
deities. All Of the idols are monstrous in
design and frightful-looking in appearance.
That to Krishna (anotber name for Jugger-
naut) is painted blue and has face hideous
in the extreme.
Besides Krishna or Juggernaut, two others
of the idols are provided with immense cars
or chariots. The car Of Juggernaut is thought
to be the largest wheeled vehicle that has
aud half feet square at the base and forty
three and half feet in height, mounted on
sixteen wheels. each six and half feet in
diameter.
festival, Juggernaut, mounted, on the apex
Of his stately car, is taken to the house about
one and half miles in the country, where a
female image j. supposed to be waiting to
The removal Of the chariot from the shrine
to the country house being proceeding holy
in the extreme, no animals are used for draw
i ing the chariot. men, women and children
only being permitted to perform such right
On this occasion either five or seven long
ropes are attached TO the front end of the
car, the middle one having been twisted
from hair cut from the heads of female dew
otees.
It was long fixed belief in Christian
countries that many pilgrims sacrificed them
selves upon these gala days by falling prone
before the car and allowing. the -ponderous
wheels to pass over their bodies. It Is prob
able that the accounts of these selfsacrifces
have been too highly colofed, and that the
great loss Of life upon such occasions, when
thousands Of frantic devotees are. congregated
together, comes more from accident than a
desire to start for heaven from directly I'M
derneath the wheels Of the holy car.