BRIDES OF THE SAINTS

Evening Star, Issue 20020, 10 November 1928, Page 24

BRIDES OF THE SAINTS

STRANGE HINDU CUSTOM The custom by which Hindu parents dedicate their young daughters for life, without any choice of their own, to the services of tho temple gods or the priests, is arousing increasing opposition in India to-day. A recent case, in which three girls were /consecrated to a priest who is described as a “saint,” has been instrumental in starting a campaign for the total abolition of the custom. Tho origin of this custom was the pioufl idea of dedicating a child to a god. Though exclusively an aboriginal and Dravidiau practice, it was slightly analogous to tho custom prevailing among the pagan Romans, who consecrated vestal virgins to the temples. Such virgins lived a pure life, were hold in high esteem, and respected. They were allowed, on reaching maturity, either to continue this service of the gods, or to abandon it and return to ordinary life. In course of time, however, tho pious object of their calling was lost sight of, tho essential condition of their purity and the rectitude of their conduct came to be ignored, and they fell into loose life and promiscuity. They were now no more the exclusive and chaste brides of the gods, but the sport of tho priests. Mr Ghandhi, the great Indian Nationalist leadei has now denounced the “ saints,” who call on the true believers to come forward and dedicate the lives of their young daughters or wives to their services. The ‘ Indian National Herald,’ a leading Bombay newspaper, cites the case of a “saint” who came specially to Bombay from his up-country homo to gain converts. Crowds of devoted Hindus wont to tho beautiful residenco high up on the Malabar Hill to catch a glimpse or ohtain a blessing for themselves and their families of this “holy” one. They found him seated cross-legged on a dhair—an old man with Only a loin cloth round his waist. Beautiful girls clustered round him, while some received the offerings that were placed at his feet. The “ saint" kept silent, his eyes shut. They said he was in a super-conscious state. Throughout the day tho worshippers passed in front of him. They had come from distant places to venerate and pay homage to the old man. Each one had a gift, and ho was eagerly expecting that the “ saint ” would come back to himself and deliver a message to him or his family. Biit tho “saint” had nothing to say, and tho expectant crowd had to be satisfied with only tho sight of him.