DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0233
W6 THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY.
to the conjunction of the stars, worship is again performed,
in which only one bloody sacrifice is offered; and in some
cases none. Widows fast on this day, particularly a widow
with children; the latter deriving great benefits from the
meritorious actions of the mother.
On the third day, the goddess is worshipped only once,
but the offerings and sacrifices are many; buffaloes are
offered only on this day. A respectable native once told
me, he had seen one hundred and eight buffaloes sacrificed
by one Hindoo at this festival: the number slain in the
whole country must therefore be very great. Formerly
some of the Hindoo kings killed a thousand animals on
these occasions y. The males only are sacrificed; and they
are in general young and very tame, costing from five to
sixteen roopees each. None of the Hindoos eat the sacri-
ficed buffaloes, except the shoemakers2. Each animal is _
bathed before it is slain; after which the officiating bram-
hun puts red lead on its horns, and, with a red string, ties
a piece of wool smeared with red lead on the forepart of the
'y The -father of the present Mng of Nudeeya, at one of these festivals,
offered a great number of goats and sheep to Doorga. He began with
one, and, doubling the number each day, continued it for sixteen days.
On the last day he killed 33,768, and in the whole he slaughtered 65,335
animals. He loaded boats with the bodies, and sent them to the neigh-
bouring bramhims; but they could not devour them fast enough, and great
numbers were thrown away.—Let no one, after this, tell us of the scru-
ples of the bramhiins about destroying animal life, and eating animal
food.
x In some places the tame hog is offered to Doorga by the lowest casts,
who, among other offerings, present spirituous liquors to the goddess.
At the end of the ceremonies, these persons cook and eat the flesh, drink
the spirits, and then, in a state of intoxication, the men and women dance
together, and commit the greatest indecencies. No bramhun, on pain of
losing cast, can assist at these ceremonies; and indeed all bramhiins, who
perform ceremonies for persons of low cast, sink in society.
to the conjunction of the stars, worship is again performed,
in which only one bloody sacrifice is offered; and in some
cases none. Widows fast on this day, particularly a widow
with children; the latter deriving great benefits from the
meritorious actions of the mother.
On the third day, the goddess is worshipped only once,
but the offerings and sacrifices are many; buffaloes are
offered only on this day. A respectable native once told
me, he had seen one hundred and eight buffaloes sacrificed
by one Hindoo at this festival: the number slain in the
whole country must therefore be very great. Formerly
some of the Hindoo kings killed a thousand animals on
these occasions y. The males only are sacrificed; and they
are in general young and very tame, costing from five to
sixteen roopees each. None of the Hindoos eat the sacri-
ficed buffaloes, except the shoemakers2. Each animal is _
bathed before it is slain; after which the officiating bram-
hun puts red lead on its horns, and, with a red string, ties
a piece of wool smeared with red lead on the forepart of the
'y The -father of the present Mng of Nudeeya, at one of these festivals,
offered a great number of goats and sheep to Doorga. He began with
one, and, doubling the number each day, continued it for sixteen days.
On the last day he killed 33,768, and in the whole he slaughtered 65,335
animals. He loaded boats with the bodies, and sent them to the neigh-
bouring bramhims; but they could not devour them fast enough, and great
numbers were thrown away.—Let no one, after this, tell us of the scru-
ples of the bramhiins about destroying animal life, and eating animal
food.
x In some places the tame hog is offered to Doorga by the lowest casts,
who, among other offerings, present spirituous liquors to the goddess.
At the end of the ceremonies, these persons cook and eat the flesh, drink
the spirits, and then, in a state of intoxication, the men and women dance
together, and commit the greatest indecencies. No bramhun, on pain of
losing cast, can assist at these ceremonies; and indeed all bramhiins, who
perform ceremonies for persons of low cast, sink in society.