The Coolidge examiner., 1932-10-07

plan whereby he could obtain the
coveted kingdom. He invited the
Pandus to gambling party at his
palace and through trickery won
their kingdom.
DuryOdhana then sent for the
queen and endeavOred to disrobe her
in public. A higher power protect
ed her chastity by making her gar
ments unending. Through sheer ex-
haustion, DuryOdhana finally gave
up his attempt to disrobe Draupadi,
who then united his turban and
vowed that she would not retwine it
until her enemies have been de-
strOyed, and then she would bathe
in fire as proof of her chastity.
A war followed, and when the Pan
dus were the victors Draupadi per-
formed her VOW. So today she is
worshiped as one of the seven god
desses of chastity, and even the
mention of her name is enough to
wipe away all SINS.
Walking through fire has become
custom for the curing of bodily
ills or the overcoming of other ca
lamities. Faith in the efficacy of
these ceremonies is absolute. Sup
pose some member of ones family
has suffered serious illness. over
which the medical man seems to
have no power. One makes a VOW
to perform Treemiri or Tai Pusan
and the recovery begins at the end
of the ceremony. Or suppose one
is filled with gratitude for blessings
which have been bestowed or is de-
sirous of having favors vouchsafed
in the future Again a VOW is made
to walk on fire or decorate the body
with needles thrust into the flesh,
and all will be well.
To the Hindu god Subramanya,
son of Siya the Tai Pusam VOWS
are made This three-day ceremony
takes place in Singapore in January.
Weeks in advance the participants
prepare themselves by abstaining
from the routines of life.
The first day of the ceremony the
silver car, which is the palanquin of
the image of the god, is brought
forth from its shelter in the court
yard of the Tank road temple, dust
ed and polished, then drawn to the
South Bridge road temple, where it
remains under a canopy until the
third day. On the car is throne
like seat for Subramanya.
Martyrs of Subramanya.
On the second day the difficult part
of the vow is performed. Although
the devOtees begin early in the
morning, it is usually late afternoon
before all have had chance to be-
come self-made martyrs. The par
ticipants-men, women and children
gather in the grounds of the tenn
pie and bathe in "A well the water of
which has been blessed previously
Dy the OliitldiIuS priest.
The image of the god is garland
ed with flowers, most intricately and
artistically arranged. and showered
with offerings of rice, bananas. CO.
cOnuts. betel leaf. and other delica-
cies. The vOw-maker is now closely
surrounded by his friends, who
chant passages from the Vedas, here
and there inserting in unison the
cry of "Aro Hara." Next, powdered
ashes, which may or may not be pre-
pared to relieve the senSitiveness of
the skin, are busted over the body
The flesh is sometimes pounded with
the edge of the hand, causing the
skin to rise.
Within eyeshOt sits a Tamil clad
in a loincloth and silver pins. Two
temple officials. one on each side,
prepare the martyr for his three
mile pilgrimage to the temple on
Tank road by thrusting pins into his
flesh. His chest, his back, his fore
utdu, His al lilS anu llilSbS1 al CIi-
tirely covered with small, shining
V-shaped pins. He seems almost in
a state of coma and his eyes roll in
their sockets until at times only
the whites are visible.
The observer finds himself also in
the midst of another group, watch
ing the priests thrust long spear
like needles through holes in the
metal laths of a fanlike arch over
another devotee. These needles.
which are from two 70 three feet
long. have to be fastened securely
in the flesh of the chest and back in
order to hold in place this heavy
leather canopy. Through his cheek
is thrust silver skewer, which pro-
trudes an inch or more on each side
of his face.