Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
- CHAP. I OF GOD
- CHAP. II OF THE GODS
- CHAP. III OF THE GODDESSES
- CHAP. IV INFERIOR CELESTIAL BEINGS OBJECTS OF WORSHIP
- CHAP. V OF THE TERRESTRIAL GODS
- CHAP. VI TERRESTRIAL GODDESSES
- CHAP. VII DEITIES WORSHIPPED BY THE LOWER ORDERS ONLY
- CHAP. VIII WORSHIP OF BEINGS IN STRANGE SHAPES
- CHAP. IX WORSHIP OF HUMAN BEINGS
- CHAP. X WORSHIP OF BEASTS
- CHAP. XI THE WORSHIP OF BIRDS
- CHAP. XII THE WORSHIP OF TREES
- CHAP. XIII THE WORSHIP OF RIVERS
- CHAP. XIV THE WORSHIP OF FISH
- CHAP. XV THE WORSHIP OF BOOKS
- CHAP. XVI THE WORSHIP OF STONES
- CHAP. XVII A LOG OF WOOD WORSHIPPED
CHAP. XII - THE WORSHIP OF TREES
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
- CHAP. I OF GOD
- CHAP. II OF THE GODS
- CHAP. III OF THE GODDESSES
- CHAP. IV INFERIOR CELESTIAL BEINGS OBJECTS OF WORSHIP
- CHAP. V OF THE TERRESTRIAL GODS
- CHAP. VI TERRESTRIAL GODDESSES
- CHAP. VII DEITIES WORSHIPPED BY THE LOWER ORDERS ONLY
- CHAP. VIII WORSHIP OF BEINGS IN STRANGE SHAPES
- CHAP. IX WORSHIP OF HUMAN BEINGS
- CHAP. X WORSHIP OF BEASTS
- CHAP. XI THE WORSHIP OF BIRDS
- CHAP. XII THE WORSHIP OF TREES
- CHAP. XIII THE WORSHIP OF RIVERS
- CHAP. XIV THE WORSHIP OF FISH
- CHAP. XV THE WORSHIP OF BOOKS
- CHAP. XVI THE WORSHIP OF STONES
- CHAP. XVII A LOG OF WOOD WORSHIPPED
Summary
Trees are worshipped by the Hindoos as the forms of particular gods: the ŭshwŭtŭ and vŭtŭ are representatives of Vishnoo, and the vilwŭ that of Shivŭ. The devout Hindoos worship them, water their roots, plant them near their houses, &c. The Hindoo females, who are never seen in the streets, plant a sacred tree within the compound, that they may not lose the merit of watering it in the sultry months. The female shōōdrŭs, to honour the wives of bramhŭns, carry water to these trees, and on a fortunate day make offerings to them.
SECT. I.—The Toolŭsee
The Hindoos have no public festival in honour of this plant; but they occasionally prostrate themselves before it, repeating a form of prayer or praise: they have great faith also in the power of its leaves to cure diseases, and use it with incantations to expel the poison of serpents. They plant it also before their houses, and in the morning cleanse the place around it with water and cow-dung; and in the evening place a lamp near it. Throughout the month Voishakhŭ they suspend a large pot over it filled with water, and let the water drop upon it through a small hole. Whenever any of these plants die, it is considered a sacred duty to commit them to the river; and when a person is brought to the river side to die, his relations plant a branch of the toolŭsee near the dying man's head.
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- A View of the History, Literature, and Religion of the HindoosIncluding a Minute Description of their Manners and Customs, and Translations from their Principal Works, pp. 261 - 263Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1817