228 HINDOO MYTHOLOGY. 



surate with those of former times. Many contain only a 

 single apartment, and may be built for about twenty-five 

 pounds ; few have more than three or four rooms. The 

 grand ceremonies to which multitudes crowd are all cele- 

 brated in an open area fronting the gates ; so that nothing 

 is wanted within but space for the images, and accommoda- 

 tion for one or two attendants. These idols are composed 

 of every possible material, and of a gTeat variety of dimen- 

 sions, from gold downwards to wood and clay, and from a 

 height of twenty-one cubits to figures weighing one or two 

 ounces. In their form no display is made of the art of the 

 sculptor ; they are fashioned by the smith, the potter, or 

 anv other tradesman who works in the substance out of 

 which the god is to be fabricated. Before acquiring, how- 

 ever, the character of sacred objects, various offerings, mys- 

 terious touches, and incantations must be performed by a 

 Brarain, through whose operation they are at last supposed 

 to receive eyes° and a soul, and to become the living abode 

 of the deity whom they represent. Those of clay are 

 usually modelled by the worshippers themselves, merely to 

 serve the purposes of a particular festival ; the ceremonies 

 of which are closed by casting them into the rivers. 



The worship and services paid to the Hindoo deities are, 

 generally speaking, irrational, unmeaning, and often im- 

 moral. They include no provision for instructing the body 

 of the people in the duties of life, or even in what is sup- 

 posed to be divine truth ; but consist merely in acts of blind 

 and senseless adulation to popular divinities. Every image, 

 when lodged in its temple, has a mechanical round of daily 

 homage performed before it, and is furnished with a regular 

 allowance of food, which, after remaining a certain time, is 

 removed and applied to the use of the attendants. On the 

 great annual festivals these offerings are profusely lavished ; 

 while the multitudes assembled in front of the temples in- 

 dulge in indecent songs and extravagant motions. Mr. 

 Ward enumerates the various articles of maintenance be- 

 stowed upon Kalee, in her temple at Kaleeghata, among 

 which are 12,000 goats, 240 tons of rice, 48 cwt. of sugar, 

 264 cwt. of sweetmeats, and considers them as worth 9000/. 

 annually. Besides the public solemnities the devotee has 

 a daily service to perform, explained at great length by Mr. 

 Cokbrooke and Mr. Ward, but of which we cannot under- 



