DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0058
ON THE HINDOO RELIGION. xlv
purifying nature of these waters; and several works have been
written to extol the saving properties of the Gangess. Its waters
are carried to immense distances; every thing they touch be-
comes purified; crowds of Hindoos perform their worship on the
banks of the river daily, after purifying themselves in its stream;
the sick are laid on its banks, expecting recovery from the mere
sight of this goddess; and it is reckoned a great calamity not to
die within view of Giinga. Many other rivers receive the
honours of divine worship, as will be seen in page 278.
17. Worship of Fish. Even the finny tribes are honoured by
the Hindoos, though the worship paid to them is of an inferior
nature.
18. The worship of Books is very common among this people.
The lower orders have such a profound respect for a book, that
they think every thing in such a form must be divine. On
several occasions a book is converted into an image, and wor-
shipped with all the forms used before the most popular idol.
19. Worship of Stones. The shalugramii, as a form of Vish-
noo, is more frequently worshipped than any other idol in India1,
not excepting the lingu itself; which perhaps ought to be placed
next, and which is also a stone. The representatives of Pun-
' The Gunga-vakya-viilee, &c.
* ' The shaliigramus are black stones, found in a part of the Giindukee
river, within the limits of Nepal. They are mostly round, and are com-
monly perforated in one or more places by worms, or, as the Hindoos
believe, by Vishnoo in the shape of a reptile. According to the number
of perforations, and of spiral curves in each, the stone is supposed to
contain Vishnoo in various characters. For example, such a stone, per-
forated in one place only, with four spiral curves in the perforation, and
with marks resembling a cow's foot, and a long wreath of flowers, con-
tains Lukshmee-Narayunii. In like manner stones are found in the Ntir-
mtida, which are considered as types of Shivii, and are called Vanil-Lingu.
The shalugramii is found, upon trial, not to be calcareous: it strikes fire
with steel, and scarcely at all effervesces with acids.' Asiatic Researches,
vol vii. p. 240.
purifying nature of these waters; and several works have been
written to extol the saving properties of the Gangess. Its waters
are carried to immense distances; every thing they touch be-
comes purified; crowds of Hindoos perform their worship on the
banks of the river daily, after purifying themselves in its stream;
the sick are laid on its banks, expecting recovery from the mere
sight of this goddess; and it is reckoned a great calamity not to
die within view of Giinga. Many other rivers receive the
honours of divine worship, as will be seen in page 278.
17. Worship of Fish. Even the finny tribes are honoured by
the Hindoos, though the worship paid to them is of an inferior
nature.
18. The worship of Books is very common among this people.
The lower orders have such a profound respect for a book, that
they think every thing in such a form must be divine. On
several occasions a book is converted into an image, and wor-
shipped with all the forms used before the most popular idol.
19. Worship of Stones. The shalugramii, as a form of Vish-
noo, is more frequently worshipped than any other idol in India1,
not excepting the lingu itself; which perhaps ought to be placed
next, and which is also a stone. The representatives of Pun-
' The Gunga-vakya-viilee, &c.
* ' The shaliigramus are black stones, found in a part of the Giindukee
river, within the limits of Nepal. They are mostly round, and are com-
monly perforated in one or more places by worms, or, as the Hindoos
believe, by Vishnoo in the shape of a reptile. According to the number
of perforations, and of spiral curves in each, the stone is supposed to
contain Vishnoo in various characters. For example, such a stone, per-
forated in one place only, with four spiral curves in the perforation, and
with marks resembling a cow's foot, and a long wreath of flowers, con-
tains Lukshmee-Narayunii. In like manner stones are found in the Ntir-
mtida, which are considered as types of Shivii, and are called Vanil-Lingu.
The shalugramii is found, upon trial, not to be calcareous: it strikes fire
with steel, and scarcely at all effervesces with acids.' Asiatic Researches,
vol vii. p. 240.