DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0136
THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY, 19
the image the next day into the water. This worship is
performed in the nighty and is accompanied with singing,
dancing, music, feasting, &c* The image worshipped is
either that of Shivu with five faces, or that with one face.
In the month Maghii also a festival in honour of Shivu is
held for one day, when the image of this god sitting on a
bull, with ParvutSS on his knee, is worshipped. This form
of Shivu is called Huru-Gouree^,
In the month Choitm an abominable festival in honour
of this god is celebrated; when many Hindoos, assuming
the name of sunyasees, inflict' on themselves the greatest
cruelties. Some of the chief sunyasees purify themselves
for a month previously to these ceremonies, by going to
some celebrated temple or image of Shivu, and there eating
only once a day, abstaining from certain gratifications, re-
peating the name of Shivu, dancing before his image, &c<
Other sunyasees perform these preparatory ceremonies for
fifteen, and others for only ten days; during which time
parties of men and boys dance in the streets, having their
bodies covered with ashes, &c. and a long piece of false
hair mixed with mud wrapped round the head like a turban.
A large drum accompanies each party, making a horrid
din.
■On the first day of the festival, these sunyasees cast
- themselves from a bamboo stage with three resting places,
the highest about twenty feet from the ground. From
this height these persons cast themselves on iron spikes
stuck in bags of straw. These spikes are laid in a reclining
posture, and when the person falls they almost constantly
fell down instead of entering his body. There are instances
y H6rfi is the nam* of Shivii, and Gourec that of Doorga.
D 2
the image the next day into the water. This worship is
performed in the nighty and is accompanied with singing,
dancing, music, feasting, &c* The image worshipped is
either that of Shivu with five faces, or that with one face.
In the month Maghii also a festival in honour of Shivu is
held for one day, when the image of this god sitting on a
bull, with ParvutSS on his knee, is worshipped. This form
of Shivu is called Huru-Gouree^,
In the month Choitm an abominable festival in honour
of this god is celebrated; when many Hindoos, assuming
the name of sunyasees, inflict' on themselves the greatest
cruelties. Some of the chief sunyasees purify themselves
for a month previously to these ceremonies, by going to
some celebrated temple or image of Shivu, and there eating
only once a day, abstaining from certain gratifications, re-
peating the name of Shivu, dancing before his image, &c<
Other sunyasees perform these preparatory ceremonies for
fifteen, and others for only ten days; during which time
parties of men and boys dance in the streets, having their
bodies covered with ashes, &c. and a long piece of false
hair mixed with mud wrapped round the head like a turban.
A large drum accompanies each party, making a horrid
din.
■On the first day of the festival, these sunyasees cast
- themselves from a bamboo stage with three resting places,
the highest about twenty feet from the ground. From
this height these persons cast themselves on iron spikes
stuck in bags of straw. These spikes are laid in a reclining
posture, and when the person falls they almost constantly
fell down instead of entering his body. There are instances
y H6rfi is the nam* of Shivii, and Gourec that of Doorga.
D 2