New Britain herald., 1928-02-09
CURIOUS WAYS OF PRAYER IN WORLD Various People Elbort Deitis in
 Different Ways

UluWVut HuJS
 Washington, D. C.. Feb. 9.-Oc- cesional revision of the prayer books of Western churches is a reminder to the geographer of curious prayer customs that prevail in certain oth- CT parts of the world.
 Central Asia and Tibet have been called the Land of Mechanical Prayers" Wherever the natives con- gregate. there Is constant mutter- ing "Om Mani Padnle Hum" co Jewel in the Lotus) while numerous contrivances bearing the same pray CT are in ,isc. supplementing the vo- cal petitions.
 Prayers by Wind Tower
 The praying wheel has long been q fayorite apparatus among Budd- hsts of these regions. In the villages and along the highways. the faithful carry the hand model of the wheel consisting of revolving cylinder with q nlalletlike handle As the lslder walks or rides he spins the cylinder upon which the prayer Is written hundreds oy times. Each revolution Of each prayer is an i'm ,1ividual prayer. In this way thou sands of prayers can be said in minute.
 The large wh sels, some of which are six fet high rnd from ten 10 twelve feet in circumference. are placed under shelters along trails to sacred places. and in the temples. When a pilgrim, passes the wheel he gives it a. vigorous spin.
 There are lazy Buddhists as we'll as lazy members of other religious Sects Sometimes the owner of q plot of ground where there is a stream will set up w1terpropelled prayer wheel. The pole to which the pray CT wheel or cylinder is sttched is stuck through q. hole in board which rests on the banks. Then sort Of mill wheel is attached 10 the bottom of the pole so that the Wa ter of the stream rekolves the pole and cylinder. constantly grinding out prayers. Often the traveler sees 3 public wheal or two. bridging or beside stream, which resembles, at first glance. a small rural grain mill of this country.
 Prayers by the Piles
 Tn the land Of the Nashi near the Tihetan bordsr the natives, in bright red cloaks, journey to their sacred places, pounding drums and ringing teIls. The difficult trails are lined here and there with prayer pyramids or piles of rocks of various heights.
 Prayer flaga also play an impor- tant part in the religious life of tho Nashi people. Nearly every village has a prayer flag pole which is sell dom without a fluttering piece Of cloth or hide. Each flag bears at least one prayer and each flutter is equivalent to a word of mouth pe- tition of the villagers. The devout Buddhist oftan ties hundreds Of these flags to & rope which he strings across m open space where the wind will strike them and show CT merit upon him.
 NloeIcn,S Use Prayer Bricks
 The Moslems are more conscrva- tive than their Buddhist neighbors. Prayer rugs. some of which arc beautifully designed and colorcd, are important prayer accessories. Wherever the Moslem may be in the shop. or in the street. at prayer time he spreads out his carpet removes his shoes and facing Mecca. goes through the formula of Moslcm prayer pastures. First he holds hotn hands before n.s face with palms upward. then bending at the hips he places his han1s on his thighs. His next move is 10 krocl without nov ing his hands and from this knceling posture he leans forward. touching the palms of his hands and his fore head to the ground. Some scots of the Moslems use prayer bricks as part Of their pray CT paraphernalil. They arc cakes Of baked clay from Mecca, Medina or some other sacred place. They arc placed so that the head Of inc pray ing Moslem will touch them instead of tho ground. IT he loses his prayer bricks. a piece Of green paper or leaves Of any plant that docs not grow fruit will answer the purpose. Sian,csc Pray by I.orkcts
 The prayer rocket Of the natives of northern Siam bears crude TO- scnblanco to cur Fourth of July" rocket. When the barrel is filled with powder, tho rocket is placed upon lofty platform and fired dur ing religious rites. The natives are Erave people but they dread fh" spirits Of their dead. The rocket is , used to scare off the evil ones. When Kci islanders go off to war, the women of tho tribe place bas- licts Of stone and fruit on hoard while they pray that the bullets of the enemies will rebound from their husbands and brothers as rain drops would rebound from their offerings if thc latter were smoarcd with oil. Natives ot the CeIchcs kill q rooster and 2 pig and. placing them side by side. pray @ gods above and gods below, if you have pity on us and will that we cat, give us rain" In Malay inc rice growers must take q pint of rice ft he fboefiur u