EXPOSURE OF SUPERSTITIOUS PRACTICES.

West Coast Times, Issue 1187, 13 July 1869, Page 4

EXPOSURE OF SUPERSTITIOUS PRACTICES.

(From the Mitrodaya, May 6.)

The sacred intercalary month of the Hindoos i« almost drawing to a close ; it is reckoned by the orthodox Hindoos as a season of S'tnctity. On account of the defective method of astronomical calculation adopted by the ancient Brahmins, the)' are compelled to add one month in every three years in order to keep all the seasons of the year in consonance with the revolutions of the sun. This additional month is known by the name of "Pur^otam Mas," or " the month of God " It is well known that among the Hindoos every science, art, and natural phenomenon is connected with some religious dogma or other ; there is nothing which is not traced to divine origin, or placed under the immediate superintendence of a deity. This month has its ruling genius in deities known in Hindu mythology by the name " Lak»mi Purshotam." The usual forms of Hindoo chaiity are specially recommended in this month ; it is believed that every act of religious charity, or what is technically called Dharm, performed in this month, yields a hundredfold reward. The Brahmins of the present day have turned this belief, entertained by a large class of devout Hindoos, to profitable account. There are large feasts given to these crafty priests every day of this month ; gifts of money, gold, jewels, clothes, fruits, and other produce, are abundantly made ; it is, in fact, the harvest time of these priests. They hold themselves up to the ignorant masses as gods, tell them to perform ceremonies and rites in a way hardly ever contemplated by the founders of the Vedic religion, aad try to work marvellously on the excited fanatical whims of the superstitious devotees. It is debasing to see what impostures these cunning priests practise upon these poor people. Every day in the morning, lots of Hindu females, in their shabbiest dress, go to filthy tanks and gutter-like reservoirs to wash their bodies, believing that the libations are efficacious to procure eternal salvation to their souls. The Brahmins throng these places ; they mutter some nonsensical words, and tell their ignorant blinded flocks to wash their bodies. The females, without caring for decency or feminine modesty, plunge themselves into the water in the presence of these rascally impostors, and come out almost naked. In this state the Brahmins surround them, and snatch from the hands of the poor devotets what money or rice they may have. This is a deplorable sight, quite unbecoming the abused name of religion. But the inventive genius of the Br.ihmins stop not here. They have given out that at Worlee, near the main drain, Shiw ling, or Mahadevs, have sprung out of the soil ; they have collected a numlier of round stones and placed on them sandal, rice, and flowers. The ignorant and fanatic Hindoos go by thousands to see these stones, changed into the Shiw Lings by the crafty priests, who s>tiate their cupidity by extracting money from the bewildered fanatics. There is another trick recently put forth by Brahmins which surpasses all others in conception. The Bhole-hwar tank, filled with dirty water, is being emptied ; the main drain passes it. A small spring, evidently from the drain, has burst forth from a small crevice in the flight of ste^s leading to the tank. The Brahmins saw it, and have given out that the Sacred Ganga hag burst forth in the Bholeshwar tank to save the souls of Hindoos. The people believe it to be true, and drink the stinking water by thousands. What blind superstition is still reigning in the hearts of the masses is quite evident from this. We wish our young educated natives would set their soul to expose these impostors, and- bring the poor and ignorant people to their senses.

J. M. is now prepared to'lay out gardens, prune fruit-trees, &c. Orders left at A. Walker's, Revell-street, or at J. M 's, Kanieri Tramway, punctually attended to. 660*1