Widows burnt alive on the funeral pile, in Hindoosť

5000

hanu, Pilgrims perishing on the roads and at sacred places,* 4000 Persons drowning themselves in the Ganges, or buried

or burnt alive

Children immolated, including the daughters of the ra

ju-pootus

Sick persons whose death is hastened on the banks of the Gangest

500

500

500

Total, 10,500

In addition to what has already been stated relative to the speculative theories of the Hindoo Mythology, we may add some account of their more practical and obvious doctrines.]

* "Buddruck, in Orissa, May 30th, 1806. We know that we are approaching Juggernaut (and yet we are more than fifty miles from it) by the human bones which we have seen for some days strewed by the way. At this place we have been joined by several large. bodies of pilgrims, perhaps 2000 in number, who have come from various parts of Northern India. Some old persons are among them, who wish to die at Juggernaut. Numbers of pilgrims die on the road; and their bodies generally remain unburied. On a plain, by the river, near the pilgrims' caravansera at this place, there are more than a hundred skulis. The dogs, jackalls, and vultures seem to live here on human prey.

Juggernaut, 14th June. I have seen Juggernaut. The scene at Buddruck is but the vestibule to Juggernaut. No record of ancient or modern history can give, I think, an adequate idea of this valley of death; it may be truly compared to the valley of Hinnom. I have also visited the sand plains by the sea, in some places whitened with the bones of the pilgrims; and another place, a little way out of the town, called by the English the Golgotha,' where the dead bodies are usually cast forth, and where dogs and vultures are ever seen.

6

Juggernaut. 21st June. I have beheld another distressing scene this morning at the place of skulls; a poor woman lying dead or nearly dead, and her two children by her, looking at the dogs and vultures which were near. The people passed by without noticing the children. I asked them where was their home. They said they had no home but where their mother was.' O, there is no pity at Juggernaut no tenderness of heart in Moloch's kingdom."-Buchanan's Researches in India.

A person who has lived several years near the temple of Jugunnat'hu, in Orissa, in a letter to Dr. Ward,says, 'I cannot pronounce on the numbers who actually perish at Jugunnat'hu, and on their way thither; in some years they do not amount to more than two hundred perhaps; but in others they may exceed 2000.'

A gentleman, whose opinion is of great weight, says, 'I believe this estimate is far below the truth.'

The preceding summary from page 75, is taken from the account of Dr. Ward and other writers. We now return to our abridgment.

Of the Transmigration of Souls.-After death, the person is conveyed by the messengers of Yumu through the air to the place of judgment. After receiving his sentence, he wanders about the earth for twelve months, as an aerial being or ghost: and then takes a body suited to his future condition, whether he ascend to the gods, or suffer in a new body, or be hurled into some hell: this is the doctrine of several Poorunus.Others maintain that immediately after death and judgment, the person suffers the pains of hell, and removes his sin by suffering; and then returns to the earth in some bodily form.

'The faith of the Hindoos in the doctrine of the transmigration of souls often appears in their conversation; especially when either prosperous or adverse circumstances have arisen in a family. When a person in deep sorrow for the loss of a child, is addressed by another on the subject, the former perhaps utters her grief in some such words as these :'What have I done, that I am thus grievously afflicted ?When I examine my life from my childhood, I cannot see that I have done any harm. Why then does god thus afflict me? Why did he give me a child? Why did he take it away!'-She next vents her grief in a torrent of abuse on Yumu :- Oh! Yumu! What did I do to thee? I am sure I never injured thee. Thou knowest that I have none else : I am in this world like a blind creature this child was my staff, and thou hast taken him away. O thou wicked Yumu! --I will put a wisp of fire in thy face. I will flog thee with the broom.-My breast is rent with grief.' Another female now joins her, and says, 'Oh! sister! What! is your child gone? Ah! Ah! Ah!-that vile Yumu-he is full of injustice. If I could see him, I would cut him into a thousand pieces. He has taken all mine; but he has left you one.Ah! if I were stone, I should split into pieces; but I am earth--only flesh and blood, and therefore I am sunk into nothing. But why do I thus complain? I am not singular; every one's house is plundered.' Another person now comes in, and says, 'Why do you blame Yumu? What fault has be done? In former births you must have committed many crimes; otherwise I cannot see why you should suffer in this dreadful manner; you have done nothing but works of merit in this birth. You must have injured some one's child in a former birth, and now yours is taken from you. Yumu has done nothing wrong. He is justice itself, He never errs.

Nor ought you to think it extraordinary that a person dies.It is more extraordinary that a person desires to live. If you confine a bird in a cage, though you cherish him with the greatest care, if the door be open he flies away. But though there are nine openings in the body by which the soul may make its escape, and though the person be suffering the deepest distress, yet the soul is not willing to depart; this desire of life is more wonderful than death itself. When the soul has taken its flight, then, why should you think it such an extraordinary thing? You are suffering for the sins of many former births; which sins, like a shadow will pursue you, go where you will, and assume whatever shape you may, till they be expiated by suffering. If this were not so, why is it that a good man suffers, while a wicked man is raised to the pinnacle of prosperity? If men suffered only for the sins of this life, the good would have nothing but happiness, and the wicked nothing but sorrow.

When the Hindoos see any of the animals used cruelly, especially cows, they exclaim - Ah! how many sins must that creature have committed in a former birth! They say the same if they see a dog eating ordure. When they see a dog riding with his master in his palanqueen, they say, 'True thou art born a dog, but some good works have made thy fate tolerable.'

Judgment of Men after death.-At the extremity of the earth southwards, floating on the waters, is Sungyumunee, the residence of Yumu, the judge of the dead, and of his recorder Chitru-gooptu, and his messengers. Yumu has four arms, is of a dark colour, with his eyes like the petal of the water lily: in his hands he holds a shell, a discus, a club, and a lotus ; he rides on Gurooru; wears a golden poita, and pearl ear-rings; and has a crown on his head, and a garland of flowers round his neck. Chitru-gooptu, the recorder, and Yumu's attendants, appear in the most pleasing forms.

Those who perform works of merit are led to Yumu's palace along the most excellent roads, in some parts of which the heavenly courtezans are seen dancing or singing; and gods, gundhurvus, &c. are heard chanting the praises of other gods; in others, showers of flowers are falling from heaven; in other parts are houses containing cooling water, and excellent food; pools of water covered with nymphaeas and trees, affording fragrance by their blossoms and shade by their leaves. The gods are seen to pass on horses or elephants, with white umbrellas carried over them; or in palanqueens or chariots, fanned with the chamuras of the gods: while the devurshees

:

are chanting their praises as they pass along. Some, by the glory issuing from their bodies, illume the ten quarters of the world.

Yumu receives the good with much affection, and, feasting them with excellent food, thus addresses them :Ye are truly meritorious in your deeds; ye are wise by the power of your merits ascend to an excellent heaven. He who, born in the world, performs meritorious actions, he is my father, brother and friend.'

The wicked have 688,000 miles to travel to the palace of Yumu, to receive judgment. In some places they pass over a pavement of fire; in others the earth in which their feet sink is burning hot; or they pass over burning sands, or over stones with sharp edges, or burning hot; sometimes showers of sharp instruments, and at others showers of burning cinders, or scalding water, or stones fall upon them; burning winds scorch their bodies; every now and then they fall into concealed wells full of darkness, or pass through narrow passages filled with stones, in which serpents lie concealed; sometimes the road is filled with thick darkness; at other times they pass through the branches of trees, the leaves of which are full of thorns; again they walk over broken pots, or over hard clods of earth, bones, putrifying flesh, thorns, or sharp spikes; they meet tygers, jackals, rhinoceroses, elephants, terrible giants, &c. ; and in some parts they are scorched in the sun without obtaining the least shade. They travel naked ; their hair is in disorder; their throat, lips, &c. are parched; they are covered with blood, or dirt; some wail and shriek as they pass along; others are weeping; others have horror depicted on their countenances: some are dragged along by leathern thongs tied round their necks, waists, or hands; others by cords passed through holes bored in their noses; others by the hair, the ears, the neck, or the heels; and others are carried, having their heads and legs tied together. On arriving at the palace, they behold Yumu clothed with terror, two hundred and forty miles in height; his eyes distended like a lake of water; of a purple colour, with rays of glory issuing from his body; his voice is loud as the thunders at the dissolution of the universe; the hairs of his body are each as long as a palm tree; a flame of fire proceeds from his mouth; the noise of the drawing of his breath is greater than the roaring of a tempest; his teeth are exceedingly long, and his nails like the fan for winnowing corn. In his right hand he holds an iron club; his garment is an animal's skin; and he rides on a terrific buffalo. Chitru-goop

tu also appears as a terrible monster, and makes a noise like a warrior when about to rush to battle. Sounds terrible as thunder are heard, ordering punishments to be inflicted on the offenders. At length Yumu orders the criminals into his presence, and thus addresses them :- Did you not know that I am placed above all, to award happiness to the good, and punishment to the wicked? Knowing this, have you lived in sin? have you never heard that there were different hells for the punishment of the wicked? Have you never given your minds to religion? To-day, with your own eyes, you shall see the punishment of the wicked.- From yoogu to yoogu stay in these helle ;-You have pleased yourselves in sinful practices; endure now the torments due to these sins. What will weeping avail? Yumu next directs Chitru-gooptu to examine into the offences of the criminals, who now demand the names of the witnesses: let such, say they, appear, and give their evidence in our presence. Yumu smiling, though full of rage, commands Sooryu (1), Chundru (2), Puvunu (3), Ugnee (4), Akashu (5), Prithivee (6), Vuroonu (7), Tit❜hee (8), Didu, (9), Ratree (10), Pratu-kulu (11), Sundhya-kalu (12), and Dhurma (13), to appear against the prisoners, who, hearing the evidence, are struck dumb, and remain trembling and stupified with fear. Yumu, then gnashing his teeth, beats the prisoners with his iron club till they roar with anguish; after which he drives them to different hells.

Of future happiness.-The shastrus teach that there are four kinds of happiness after death: 1. That possessed in the heavens of the gods ;-2. That when the person is deified; -3. That which arises from dwelling in the presence of the gods;-and, 4. In absorption. In the three first, the person is subject to future birth, but not in the last. The three first are obtained by works; the last by divine wisdom.

All

The descriptions which the Pooranus give of the heavens of the gods are truly in the eastern style; all things, even the beds of the gods are made of gold and precious stones. the pleasures of these heavens are exactly what we should expect in a system formed by uninspired men like the paradise of Mahomet, they are houses of ill fame, rather than places of rewards for the pure in heart.' Here the vicious

(8) a lunar day.

(9) Day. (10) Night.

(11) Morning.

(12) Evening. (13) A representative of Yumu.

All the elements, and the divisions of time, are thus called upon to

witness against the prisoner.