WEIRD INDIAN RITES

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1931, Page 10

WEIRD INDIAN RITES

INITIATED AS JAGADGURU

BOMBAY, May 23. Amazing scenes were witnessed at Tungabadra, on the river bank at Kadur. a lonely coffee district in the Mysore State, when His Holiness Sri Sringei-i Jagadguru, who is chaplain to the Mysore ruling family and high priest of several thousands of Hindus in South India, initiated a twelve years old boy, whom he has chosen as Iris successor, into the monastic life.

Thousands of devoted Hindus, high and low, men, women, and children, including representatives of the Mysore Maharaja and leading State officials, crowded the river bank during initiation ceremonies. These are intended for self-purification and to signify that Srinivas. a. slim ami bright-looking boy, renounced all worldly ties. NIGHT OF PRAYER. Ihe boy, after spending the whole night in prayer, was taken in. the morning to the river, where he performed a series of ceremonies, “worshipped” all his kith and kin, living or dead, for the last time, indicating that henceforward he towered above them all.

Standing waist-deep in the water, the future Jagadguru (world teacher) took solemn vows to lead a fearless life. He had a tuft on his head shaven and sacred, threads cut. indicating complete severance; Worn worldly ties. After these ceremonies the boy dashed out raked from the water to show that he was disgusted with the world, whereupon the Jagadguru called him back to receive initiation into the life of a Sanyasi (monk).

His Holiness then presented the boy with a mace, drinking pot, and orafige dyed barb, and took him to tlio holy shrine, where the initiation ceremonies were gone through, and necessary vows were taken. The Jagadguru during these was seated on a throne, wrought, in gold and silver, and his disciple and successor bowed before him. Master and disciple next worshipped each other, indicating the complete merging of their souls.

The ceremonies had all the grandeur of the coronation of a temporal sovereign, as well as the solemnity of the investiture of a spiritual head.

"SKY-CLAD” PRIESTS

BROACH. (Surat). May 23.

The embarrassing case of three Jain “Monies” or Holy Men, has been decided in a manner satisfactory t? all concerned.

It is part of the religious duty of tho Jains to go about stark naked or to use their own pic turesque term. Tlie Collector of Broach, who took action against, the three Monies fo“moving naked in the streets." has now withdrawn the case, after a number of tlie.Jains had interviewed Mr Garrett, lite Commissioner for the Northern Division, and hud explained that they were not mere sun-bathers or notoriety-seekers.