THE EVERYDAY RELIGION OF A SIVITE.
By Rev. W. M. Walton
BY REV. W. M. WALTON, OF INDIA. THERE are five or more kinds of Sivites in India, namely, the ordinary Sivite, the Upathasa Sivite, the linga or Siva-puja Sivite, the temple Sivite, and the educated Sivite. He rises early in the morning, washes the members of his body, and daubs ashes on the forehead, neck, and chest, uttering the name of the god Siva, Siva. Then he goes forth to his daily work. When he retires to his bed or mat in the evening, he invokes some of his gods, and occasionally, if he has time, utters the names of all the gods within the bounds of his knowledge. He is more Catholic than those of the other classes, for he hesitates not to pray even to the Roman Catholic saints. Some of this class make vows to Madoo St. Anna, Puthumadam, and others. He has a tutelary god who is supposed to reside in his compound. In times of sickness or prosperity he presents to it cocoanuts, rice, fruit, and flowers. He also, at stated times, offers to the spirits of the dead such things as they enjoyed while on earth. He has weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and yearly fasts in honor of certain planets, his dead parents, and the tutelary gods and goddesses. In short, he does not confine himself to one god or to one mode of worship, lest he may be found displeasing other gods and guilty of rejecting other creeds. Hence, he will be a Christian, too, provided his other forms of worship and his other gods are not interfered with.412 He is a little higher than the ordinary Sivites, being taken from among them and taught certain unintelligible prayers, which must be repeated every day before he takes his first meal. He is required to use the sacred ashes in the form of three stripes, and to extend them to the arms, back, and knees. He is not necessarily a vegetarian, except when required to read sacred books or sing sacred songs in temples on festive occasions. He is prohibited from eating anything that has been presented to the inferior gods or devils, and to the spirits of the dead. This rule, however, is not very strictly kept. THE LINGA OR SIVA-PUJA SIVITE.
He is higher than the Upathasa Sivite, must be a vegetarian, and worships the linga, an indecent symbol of Siva and his wife. A room in the house is set apart for this worship. Puja is performed daily before his meal, and he does not eat again until after the puja of the following day. He occasionally adorns his head, neck, and arms with garlands of nut beads, to the end of which is attached a linga of Siva. He is believed to be a terror to the devils, and to escape epidemics. All the famous temples are occupied by the Brahmans, who exercise very great influence over the people, rich and poor alike. The plan of a temple and its services, with the exception of the idols and puranas, are very similar to that of the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. Several of these temples are endowed; hence, morning and evening, puja is daily performed. The temple Sivite is one who worships in the temple every day before taking his first meal. The fish and flesh eaters are allowed to stand outside the temple, the vegetarian in the inner court, the linga Sivite still further in, the Brahmans in the sanctum, and the officiating Brahman in the holy of holies during incense time. He is indifferent about religion. He neither believes in Sivaism or Christianity, but leads a life of accommodation. To a Sivite he is a Sivite; to a Christian he is a Christian. He believes in the existence of God, but he has no fixed rule of faith or practice. He performs ceremonies as national customs, which he cannot neglect without making trouble at home. He observes festive days as social entertainments, and rubs ashes to add to the beauty of his intelligent countenance.—Missionary Notices.