DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0081
lxviii INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
Short forms of praise and prayer to the gods'* are continually
used, and are supposed to promote very highly a person's spiri-
tual interests. The following is an example of praise addressed
to Giiriga;—' O goddess, the owl that lodges in the hollow of a
tree on thy banks, is exalted beyond measure; while the emperor,
whose palace is far from thee, though he may possess- a million
of stately elephants, and may have the wives of a million of con-
quered enemies to serve him, is nothing.' Example of prayer:
—' O god! I am the greatest sinner in the world; but thou,
among the gods, art the greatest saviour : I leave my cause in
thy hands.' Praise is considered as more prevalent with the
gods than prayer, as the gods are mightily pleased with flattery.
Some unite vows to their supplications, and promise to present
to the god a handsome offering if he be propitious.
Another act of Hindoo devotion is meditation on the form of
an idol. Mr. Hastings, in his prefatory letter to the Geeta, says,
the Rev. Mr. Maurice describes the bramhiins as devoting a cer-
i Instead of hymns in honour of the gods, the Hindoos, at present, as
has been already noticed, introduce before the idol little beside filthy
songs. Some bramhiins acknowledge, that not a single Hindoo seeks in
his religion any thing of a moral nature. A real Christian, when he
approaches God, prays,' Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right
spirit within me.' ' Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from
evil.' ' Give me neither poverty nor riches.' ' Guide me with thy
counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory.' A Hindoo, when he sup-
plicates his god, prays for riches, or for recovery from sickness, or for a
son, or for revenge upon bis enemy. Sometimes the worshipper places
himself before the image in a sitting posture, and, closing his eyes, prays,
' Oh, god! give-me beauty, let me be praised, give me prosperity, give
me a son, give me riches, give me long life, or, give me health, &c.' The
eldest female of the house, throwing her garment over her shoulder, and
sitting on her hams, joining her hands, in the same manner, prays,' O
god! preserve these my children, and my son's wife; do not suffer us to
have sorrow again in our family, (referring to some death in the preceding
year,) and then I will present offerings to thee every year:' saying this,
she prostrates herself before the image. Sometimes a woman, after bath-
ing, stretches her arms towards the sun, and says,' O god of day! such
a one has ill-treated me; do thou afflict her. See! I supplicate thee
Short forms of praise and prayer to the gods'* are continually
used, and are supposed to promote very highly a person's spiri-
tual interests. The following is an example of praise addressed
to Giiriga;—' O goddess, the owl that lodges in the hollow of a
tree on thy banks, is exalted beyond measure; while the emperor,
whose palace is far from thee, though he may possess- a million
of stately elephants, and may have the wives of a million of con-
quered enemies to serve him, is nothing.' Example of prayer:
—' O god! I am the greatest sinner in the world; but thou,
among the gods, art the greatest saviour : I leave my cause in
thy hands.' Praise is considered as more prevalent with the
gods than prayer, as the gods are mightily pleased with flattery.
Some unite vows to their supplications, and promise to present
to the god a handsome offering if he be propitious.
Another act of Hindoo devotion is meditation on the form of
an idol. Mr. Hastings, in his prefatory letter to the Geeta, says,
the Rev. Mr. Maurice describes the bramhiins as devoting a cer-
i Instead of hymns in honour of the gods, the Hindoos, at present, as
has been already noticed, introduce before the idol little beside filthy
songs. Some bramhiins acknowledge, that not a single Hindoo seeks in
his religion any thing of a moral nature. A real Christian, when he
approaches God, prays,' Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right
spirit within me.' ' Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from
evil.' ' Give me neither poverty nor riches.' ' Guide me with thy
counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory.' A Hindoo, when he sup-
plicates his god, prays for riches, or for recovery from sickness, or for a
son, or for revenge upon bis enemy. Sometimes the worshipper places
himself before the image in a sitting posture, and, closing his eyes, prays,
' Oh, god! give-me beauty, let me be praised, give me prosperity, give
me a son, give me riches, give me long life, or, give me health, &c.' The
eldest female of the house, throwing her garment over her shoulder, and
sitting on her hams, joining her hands, in the same manner, prays,' O
god! preserve these my children, and my son's wife; do not suffer us to
have sorrow again in our family, (referring to some death in the preceding
year,) and then I will present offerings to thee every year:' saying this,
she prostrates herself before the image. Sometimes a woman, after bath-
ing, stretches her arms towards the sun, and says,' O god of day! such
a one has ill-treated me; do thou afflict her. See! I supplicate thee