Thread by @HindooHistory

Los Angeles Herald, 1892

"A HINDOO TEMPLE"

"Rites and Ceremonies By Which the Idol is Honored"

"A Complex Institution Over Which the High Caste Brahman Exercise Supreme Authority as Receivers, Trustees and Ministrants-- Their Methods"

#HindooHistory

"The Hindoo temple of any size or protentions is a complex institution. It is a group of buildings inclosed within one or more walls. It possesses certain privileges, granted by native rulers in days gone by and still respected by the present government"

"It enjoys what may almost be termed a royal revenue from houses, lands and offerings, and it possesses hoards of treasure in jewels, gold and silver vessels and coins. The property is in the hands of trustees, who are elected or who claim a hereditary right to the office"

"These have power over an enormous wealth. Under unscrupulous trustees valuable jewels have disappeared or been replaced with glass. Pots of silver and gold coins have been refilled with copper."

"Rich lands have been let at a nominal rent to their relatives, and offerings intended for the temple have been appropriated personally. Occasionally a trustee is prosecuted for his dishonest practices, but is not often that he is punished"

"The erection of the Hindoo temple is the work of a slow system of evolution. Some holy man perhaps dies on the spot, or he has an ecstatic vision of the god in one of the incarnations. The space is invested with sanctity and an image set up the deity"

"The landowner straightway builds a small shelter over it to propitiate the god in his favor. The ground around the edifice is next inclosed with a fence"

"By and by the shed is removed and something more pretentious and lasting erected. The dewan, or prime minister of the province, makes a pilgrimage to the shrine and leaves a rich offering in the hands of the Brahmans"

"It holds the image of the deity to whom the temple is dedicated, and it is the scene of daily ceremonies. At all risks it must be jealously guarded against the intrusion of any but the twice born"

"When Clive took the temple of Srieungham [Srirangam?]-- the largest in southern India, and a powerful stronghold in those days-- 2,000 fierce Rajputs stood before the door of the Mulasthanum, declaring that the Europeans should only pass in over their dead bodies"

"Their superstitions were respected, and Clive left the fanatics in possession. In preserving the integrity of the sacred shrine the Hindoo has something more to consider than his religious scruples."

"The restitution of the divine or mantric essence is a very expensive and intricate process, requiring large sums of money for its different rites. At Vellore there is a handsome temple which was desecrated years ago by the Mohammedans. They killed a cow in the Mulasthanam"

"The building now stands empty and unoccupied and the European may go into outer and inner court as he pleases. The Mulasthanam is a small hall richly decorated with carvings. It contains nothing but a stone dais, on the face of which is a tortoise in outline"

"The image rested formerly on the tortoise. There is a small gutter around the platform, which conducted the sacred water-- used for the ablutions of the idol-- into a reservoir outside"

"Pilgrims drank of this water eagerly in belief of its miraculous powers of healing and purification. The temple would probably be used again by Hindoo worshipers if money were forthcoming sufficient to restore the divine essence"

"The idol is not usually made of wood or stone. It is molded in an amalgam of five metals-- gold, silver, brass, copper and lead. In size it is smaller than the human finger."

"It is not called a 'Swami' until the mantric essence has been infused into it by the proper ceremonies. These are performed by the Brahmans, who claim the power of placing the essence in any object, animate or inanimate that they choose"

"Sometimes the object is a man, the chief trustee or 'Moktesoor.' He is then said to be divine, and is called 'Swami,' and moreover, is worshiped as a god. The daily ritual which concerns only the idol, takes place inside the shrine at intervals during the day."

"No worshipers are present except those taking part in the function. The image is tended in every minutiae particular as though it were a living human being. Nothing is omitted"

"It is washed with water from the sacred tank. it is dressed and fed. It is supposed to take pleasure in the company of the dancing girls; it sleeps and wakes, and finally is put to bed. During its toilet hymns of praise are sung, lamps are lighted, camphor and incense burned"

"and the the tomtom is frequently introduced. Part of the revenue of the temple pays for all of this, and a great many Brahmins find their occupation and their living in it."

"The ritual fo the festival is much more imposing. The image is covered with plates of gold and loaded with jewels. It is carried in procession upon a huge car, surmounted with a throne of silver."

"It may now appear before the eyes of all, and it makes a slow and magnificent journey around the outer courts of the temple-- which are open to all caste-- and through the town. Offerings in kind and in money and jewels are received."

"The dancing girls are to be seen, their charms enhanced by rich silk and gold; they are the daughters and wives of the god, and the children of the devil. The value of their charms goes to swell the offertory considerably"