GODDESS IN COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 2

GODDESS IN COURT

STRANGE INDIAN LITIGATION. LONDON, February 12. A Hindu idol fashioned of gold and silver and other precious metals, and named the Goddess of the Lotus. Feet, Sri Sri Iswari Bhudaneshwari Thakurani, is an appellant before the Privy Council, appearing through her trustee, Mr. Mohini. The Calcutta. Courts disageed on the case. The case for Lotus Feet is that two Hindu brothers, about the middle- of the last century, established their family idol in a Calcutta temple as goddess. When their joint business prospered they bought more land and used the income from it for the worship of the goddess. It was arranged that their descendants should continue a, similar worship. It is now alleged that the trustees in 1902 secretly arranged to upset the agreement, as a result of which the income on the goddess’ property, valued at £50,000, which should be spent on pious acts, including the distribution of sweetmeats to . poor Brhhmins, has been expropriated by certain members of the family. These members contend that they need only pay for the- upkeep of the goddess, and can retain the remainder of the income. The case, which has been adjourned, is being heard before a Privy Council Committee consisting of Lord Russell of Killowen, Lord Macmillan and Sir John Wallis.