Ward, William: A View of the History, Literature, and Religion of the Hindoos (Band 1) (London, 1817)

ON THE HINDOO RELIGION.



that there were once fierce contentions amongst the four prin-
cipal sects, and that as the soivyiis first prevailed against the
worshippers of Briimha, so, in its turn, this sect was subdued by
the followers of Vishnoo and of the female deities. The filthy
appearance of Shivu as a mendicant covered with ashes, and his
quarrels with Doorga, his wife, have given rise to several ludi-
crous stories found in the pooranus. This marriage excited the
same surprise as that betwixt Venus and Vulcan, and seems an'
unaccountable event, unless it was intended to illustrate the
gross idea of the Tuntrii writers respecting the origin of the
universe. Shivu has three eyes like Jupiter, wears a tiger's skin
like Bacchus, and like him wandered about when on earth as a
bloated mendicant, accompanied by satyrs. Bacchus wore a
deer's skin; and Shivu is represented as holding a deer in his
hand. The worship of the lingu, also, strongly resembles the
worship of the phallus in honour of Bacchus. The sunyasee
festival in honour of Shivii (see vol. i. p. 19.) appears to resemble
much the orgies of Bacchus, especially in the behaviour of the
devotees', who are said to have run up and down the streets
with their hair disheveled, and with lighted torches in their
hands. In the months Voishakhu and Kartikii, the lingu is
worshipped daily in the numerous temples dedicated to this
abomination throughout Bengal. It is difficult to restrain one's
indignation at the shocking violation of every thing decent in
this image; nor can it be ground of wonder, that a chastfr
woman, faithful to her husband, is scarcely to be found among
all the millions of Hindoos, when their very temples are polluted
with filthy images, and their acts of worship tend to inflame the
mind with licentious ideas3. Another form of Shivii is that of

*'A most singular coincidence appears to exist here betwixt the
Hindoo and the Roman ceremonies.—These stinyasees, though taken from
the lowest order, wear the poita as bramhuns during this festival. Ken-
nett, in his Roman Antiquities, book v. p. 305, says, respecting the shews
after a funeral,' Though the exhibiters of these shews were private per-
sons, yet during the time of the celebration, they were considered as of
the highest rank and quality, having the honour to wear the Pr&texta.'

•"lam credibly informed, that a Hindoo, once on a visit at a temple