Page:The Sundhya, or, the Daily Prayers of the Brahmins.djvu/3



after my residence in Bengal, my observation was attracted to the many interesting novelties which the habits and manners of the Natives exhibited; and of a few of which I have attempted, in a former work, to offer some illustration. There remained, however, various singular practices connected with their religious system which appeared to me to deserve more careful attention, forming, as they evidently did, an essential element in the daily rituals of the Hindoos, and particularly of the Brahmans.

Upon endeavouring to obtain some precise information regarding these practices, I found that, although various useful publications contained a general description of the Brahmanical ceremonies, and in particular of the Sundhya, or the daily recitals of prayers accompanied with certain gesticulations, I found that mere general description was inadequate to convey an exact notion of the practices which were daily and hourly exhibited on the banks of the Ganges by Hindoo devotees, and that pictorial illustration was indispensably necessary to represent, in an intelligible manner, their actual performance. I therefore resolved to engage in the accomplishment of a task which had hitherto been unattempted, and offer to the public a faithful representation of some of the objects which are most striking to the European traveller as he passes by the landing-places attached to villages and towns along the sandy banks of the rivers of India: at the same time, I determined to ascertain as far as was possible, by one not professing any conversancy with oriental lore beyond the familiar use of the spoken language, the purpose and object of the ceremonial, so as to render the representations the means of conveying some information which might contribute to the better understanding of the motions and practices of the numerous and interesting races of India, which, notwithstanding their differences of creed and complexion, are subjects of the British Crown.

Upon commencing my task, however, I found that I had to encounter difficulties as serious as unexpected, as a mere general sketch of the attitudes and gesticulations of the Brahmans at the season of worship, however graphic, could not express that minute accuracy which it was my great desire faithfully to preserve. It was necessary that the worshipper should deliberately perform his exercises in my presence, so as to afford me time and opportunity to delineate them with precision. That there should have been much reluctance in complying with this requisition was not unnatural, as it was asking the performer to exhibit rites considered by him as solemn and sacred, for a secular and profane purpose; but this natural reluctance became inflexible refusal on the part of the Brahmans of Bengal, none of whom would consent to perform those rites in my presence, or impart to a female, and an impure European, any of the mysteries of their religion. I was therefore unable to make any progress whilst I resided in Calcutta, and awaited the prospect of a visit to the Upper Provinces, and to the Holy City of Benares (the chief seat of Brahmanical learning), where I was led to expect I should meet with individuals less bigoted and intolerant than the Brahmans of Bengal.

Accordingly, as soon as opportunity admitted, and I was settled for some time at Benares, I set on foot an inquiry for such an informant as was required for my investigations. It was not easy to meet with one, as few Brahmans would condescend to enlighten a European female on such grave topics; nor could they comprehend why I should feel any interest in the subject, or take any pains for a purpose (which they considered) so incompatible with my sex and caste. I was not discouraged, however; and by unremitting perseverance, and by liberal remunerations, I at length prevailed on a Brahman, who professed to be acquainted with Sanscrit literature, and who officiated as a Priest in one of the Temples of Benares, to go through all the ceremonial of his daily worship in my presence, and to furnish me with the prayers used on these occasions. Accordingly, I delineated the positions through which he went in the course of his adorations with