TEMPLE OF JUGGERNAUT. 4%$ 



SECTION VI. 



Temple of Juggernaut. 



" Buddruck in Orma, May 30th, 1808. 



*' We know that we are approaching Juggernaut (and yet we 

 are more than fifty miles from it) by the human bones which we 

 hare seen for some days strewed by tne way. At this place we 

 have beenjoined by several large bodies of pilgrims, perhaps 2000 in 

 number, who have come from various parts of Northern India. 

 Some of them with whom I have conversed, say lhat they have been 

 two months on their march travelling slowly in the hottest season 

 of the year, with their wives and children. 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 Ihe river, near the Pilgrim's Caravensera at this place, 

 there are more than a hundred skulls. The dogs, jackals, and 

 Tultures, seem to live here on human prey. The vultures exhibit 

 a shocking lameness. The obscene animals will not leave the 

 body sometimes till we come close to them. This Buddruck is a 

 horrid place. Whrrever I turn my eyes, I meet death io some 

 shape or other. Surely Juggernaut cannot be worse than Bud. 

 druck." 



" In sight of Juggernaut, \<2th June, 1806. 



" Many thousands of pilgrims have accompanied as for 



some days past. Th"y cover the road before and behind as far as 

 the eye can r ach. At nine o'clock this morning, the temple 

 of Juggernaut appeared in view at a great distance. When 

 the multitude first saw it, they gave a shout, and fell to thegrou id 

 and worshipped. I have heard nothing to-day but shout* and ac- 

 clamations by the successive bodies of pilgrims. From the /lace 

 where I now stand I have a view of a host of people like an army, 

 encamped at the outer gate of the town of Juggernaut : where 

 a guard of soldiers is posted to prevent their entering the town, 

 until they have paid the pilgrim's tax. I passed a devotee to-day 

 who laid himself down at every step, measuring the road to Jug- 

 gernaut by the length of his body, as a penance f merit to 

 please the God." 



