DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0284
272 Hero-worship and Saint-worship.
excavated at a considerable height from the ground in the hills
near Nasik. The people of the country fully believe them to
have been the work of the Pandavas, and call them Pandu-lene.
It is therefore surprising that so few shrines dedicated to these
heroes are found in any part of India.
In one of the galleries of the temple at Tinnevelly I
observed well-carved images of all the five brothers, Arjuna
being especially conspicuous with his bow Gandlva, and
Bhima with his club. It is worthy of note, too, that five
rough stones smeared with red paint may occasionally be
seen set up in fields. These are probably intended to repre-
sent the five Pandava princes who are supposed to guard
the crops. Such stones abound in various parts of India,
but are not always five in number, sometimes as many as
twenty being ranged together in a kind of circle.
Again, I saw images to the honour of the Pandavas at
Madura, and at Bodh-gaya, but no worshippers were near
them1. Yet the characters of these heroes are quite as much
venerated now as they ever were in ancient times, and their
virtues, as narrated in the Maha-bharata, are to this day pro-
verbial throughout India. Arjuna, who is the most renowned,
is a pattern of bravery and generosity; Yudhi-shthira of
justice, passionless self-command, and cold heroism; Nakula
and Sahadeva of wisdom, temperance, and beauty; while
Bhima is a type of brute courage and physical strength.
Representations of his gigantic form are not uncommon,
but are rather curiosities to excite wonder, than objects to
attract worship. I saw a huge image of him on one of the
Ghats at Benares, and another near the Agra fort, and another
in a corridor of the Linga temple at Tinnevelly. This last is
about 20 feet high and holds a huge club. It is painted
bright red and made for moving about in processions.
Bhima's great strength is illustrated by a curious story.
1 In the Maratha country a single rudely-carved figure, especially if
mounted, is called a Vlr (vira, hero), or sometimes a Dev (deva, god).
excavated at a considerable height from the ground in the hills
near Nasik. The people of the country fully believe them to
have been the work of the Pandavas, and call them Pandu-lene.
It is therefore surprising that so few shrines dedicated to these
heroes are found in any part of India.
In one of the galleries of the temple at Tinnevelly I
observed well-carved images of all the five brothers, Arjuna
being especially conspicuous with his bow Gandlva, and
Bhima with his club. It is worthy of note, too, that five
rough stones smeared with red paint may occasionally be
seen set up in fields. These are probably intended to repre-
sent the five Pandava princes who are supposed to guard
the crops. Such stones abound in various parts of India,
but are not always five in number, sometimes as many as
twenty being ranged together in a kind of circle.
Again, I saw images to the honour of the Pandavas at
Madura, and at Bodh-gaya, but no worshippers were near
them1. Yet the characters of these heroes are quite as much
venerated now as they ever were in ancient times, and their
virtues, as narrated in the Maha-bharata, are to this day pro-
verbial throughout India. Arjuna, who is the most renowned,
is a pattern of bravery and generosity; Yudhi-shthira of
justice, passionless self-command, and cold heroism; Nakula
and Sahadeva of wisdom, temperance, and beauty; while
Bhima is a type of brute courage and physical strength.
Representations of his gigantic form are not uncommon,
but are rather curiosities to excite wonder, than objects to
attract worship. I saw a huge image of him on one of the
Ghats at Benares, and another near the Agra fort, and another
in a corridor of the Linga temple at Tinnevelly. This last is
about 20 feet high and holds a huge club. It is painted
bright red and made for moving about in processions.
Bhima's great strength is illustrated by a curious story.
1 In the Maratha country a single rudely-carved figure, especially if
mounted, is called a Vlr (vira, hero), or sometimes a Dev (deva, god).