Photo by Dr. W. E. Grubl 



MEASURING THKIR IvENGTH 



A common practice among Hindu pilgrims in making the circuit of sacred places is to 

 do so by a series of prostrations. Taking a stone in one hand, they prostrate themselves at 

 full length, with arms extended, leaving the stone to mark the measure of their length ; then, 

 rising, they walk to the spot marked by the stone and make a second prostration, and so on 

 until they have reached their starting place. As some of the circuits are several miles in 

 extent, the exertion involved in this act of devotion can be imagined. 



trees, wore matted hair, besmeared them- 

 selves with dirt from head to foot, and 

 in solitude upon the lone mountains en- 

 dured the greatest privations of hunger 

 and thirst. They stood for years on their 

 toes with their arms uplifted and their 

 eyes wide open. Not content with these 

 sore penances, they, in their zeal, cut off 

 pieces of their own flesh and threw them 

 into the fire. 



''The Vindhya Mountains, on which 

 these determined ascetics had placed 

 themselves, became heated by the fervor 

 of their austerities, and the gods, behold- 

 ing their doings and alarmed for the con- 

 sequences that might ensue, did every- 

 thing in their power to divert them from 

 the strict observance of their vows. The 

 gods tempted the brothers by means of 

 every precious possession and the most 

 beautiful girls, but without success. 



Everything failing, Brahma was at last 

 compelled to grant them very extensive 

 powers and privileges, including complete 

 immunity from danger except at each 

 other's hands. 



"When these successful ascetics re- 

 turned home they arrayed themselves in 

 costly robes, wore precious ornaments, 

 caused the moon to rise over their city 

 every night, and from year's end to year's 

 end indulged in continual feasting and 

 every kind of amusement. Evidently 

 there was no thought of sin or expia- 

 tion, nor did any regard for virtue enter 

 into the consideration of the objects 

 kept in view by these resolute Daitya 

 brothers. 



''The idea seems to be that those who 

 practice austerities, whoever they might 

 be, appropriate energy, as it were, from 

 some universal store and they are thus 



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