THE

MISSIONARY HERALD.

VOL. LXIV.-APRIL, 1868,- No. IV.

THE TEMPLE OF MÎNATCHI AND CHOKALINGAM, AT MADURA, SOUTHERN INDIA.

BY REV. WILLIAM TRACY.

THE temple of Mînatchi and Chokalingam, in Madura, is one of the most celebrated temples of Southern India. The engraving represents two gateways on the eastern side of this temple. That on the left is the principal entrance. It is called the "Ashtu Lachsmi Mandabam," from eight images of Lachsmi, the goddess of prosperity, which stand on each side of the passage-way into the temple.

Ranged along under the wall are small slopes, where brass and copper utensils, and a variety of other articles, are exposed for sale. Two men, apparently of some low caste, who are not permitted to enter the temple, stand at a distance in front of the gate, and in view of the shrine of the goddess to whom they are paying their devotions. The cart with oxen, on the right of the picture, is such as is used by the missionaries in their tours among the people.

The temple is situated in the centre of the city of Madura, and is a parallel-. ogram in form, the walls on the north and south sides being about 280 yards in length, and those on the east and west about 240 yards. The exterior wall is of granite, with a parapet of brick, and is 37 feet in height. The area of the temple is considerably lower than the ground on the outside, which is owing, probably, to its antiquity, the outside having risen by accumulations during a series of ages, while the interior retains its original level. The gateways on each side of the outer wall are surmounted by pyramidal towers, of granite and brick, and from 150 to 160 feet in height. Three of these are covered, from bottom to top, with figures of gods and goddesses, and other fabulous beings, while the fourth is remarkable for the entire absence of images. Other towers of similar construction, but of less height, surmount other gateways in the interior of the temple. Within the walls, and forming the temple proper, are nearly 50 buildings, employed for various purposes in the temple service. Most of these are entirely of granite, and some are of great size. The granite roof of one of these buildings is supported on a thousand pillars, and many others are of great extent, furnishing shelter for a multitude of worshippers. One building, of exquisite workmanship, is now being erected within the temple, and in front

of the shrine, the estimated cost of which is 700,000 rupees, or 350,000 dollars, in gold.

The early history of this temple is lost in the mists of antiquity. According to the legends, a merchant, in the reign of Kula Sekhara Pandian, some centuries before the Christian era, was travelling from Malayalim, and lost his way in the forest which then covered the country. He passed the night near an ancient temple of Mînatchi Amman and Choka Nathan, built by Indra while he was banished from his throne, as king of the gods, on account of his murder of a Bramin, and doing penance for his crime in the wilds of this southern forHere the god appeared in splendor to the benighted merchant, and intrusted him with a message to the king, directing him to found a city on the spot. The king complied, and built a magnificent temple, palace, &c., and the gods, in token of their pleasure, poured a shower of nectar upon the new city, from which it derived its name of Madura (Sweetness).

est.

The city and temple, with the exception of the shrines of the god and goddess, were destroyed in the great flood of Manu, and were rebuilt by Vamsa Sekhara Pandian, about the second or third century of the Christian era. The temple was again almost entirely destroyed during the first Mohammedan conquest of the kingdom, about the middle of the 14th century. Subsequently some repairs were made, and portions of the temple erected, by Viswanatha Naick, the founder of the Carnatic dynasty. It owes, however, most of its present magnificence to Tirumal Naick, who reigned from A. D. 1622 to 1662. The service of the temple is performed by 736 persons, of whom 250 are Bramins, and 40 are dancing-women. The expenses are defrayed from the proceeds of endowments, made by Tirumal Naick and others, who devoted to this object 152 villages, with an annual income of 223,500 rupees. The ordinary annual expense of the temple worship is estimated at 51,500 rupees. The remainder of the annual revenue has been kept in the hands of the government, and appropriated to the repairs of the temple, and to various public works.

In the daily temple worship, the images are bathed, anointed, and dressed; prayers are chanted by the priests, while the dancing-women sing the praises of the idols, and dance before them.

Besides the daily worship, there are festivals, lasting from ten to twelve days each, in every month of the year, some of which are celebrated with great splendor, and draw together a crowd of worshippers from all parts of the country, numbering, sometimes, not less than 100,000 people. At one of these, the marriage ceremonies of the god and goddess are performed with much pomp. At another, the idols, covered with diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones, are carried on elephants, amid the shouts of the people, with noisy music and dancing, and the glare of torch-lights, to a tank about two miles from the temple, where they take a sail, while illuminations and fire-works give an air of enchantment to the whole scene. At still another festival, the images are drawn around the principal streets of the city on a huge car, under a canopy of richcolored cloths, and resplendent with gold and silver. The gorgeous splendor of the car, the shouts of those who draw it, and the obscene songs, sung in praise of the gods, fascinate the people, and bind them strongly to their ancient worship.

These festivals form so striking a contrast to the simplicity and purity of

Christian worship that they furnish a great obstacle to the progress of the gospel, and it is not strange that the people are not ready at once to exchange their own licentious religion for the holy religion of Christ. Mere human effort would be unavailing in such a contest as that in which the missionary is engaged. But even in Madura, where Satan's seat is, the preaching of the gospel, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, has not been unfruitful. In spite of the efforts of the priests, the festivals are losing their attractions, and the crowds which attend them are diminishing from year to year. Light is spreading among the people, and the more intelligent and better educated natives openly express their disgust with idolatry. Mission schools have done much to diffuse light; and government schools, even though the Bible is excluded from them, have no little influence in turning the people from their superstitions; while the preaching of the gospel from village to village, and the distribution of Scriptures and tracts, keep the truths of Christianity constantly before their minds.

Up to 1835, Madura was a purely heathen district. No Protestant missionary had ever resided there, and the religion of Christ was unknown, except in the hideous caricature exhibited by heathenized Romanism. Now there are, under the care of the Madura mission of the Board, over 6,000 native Christians, of whom about 1,200 are members of the church. Thirty-one native churches are planted in different parts of the district, while a body of faithful native helpers-pastors, catechists, and teachers are diligently laboring for the propagation of the gospel among their own countrymen.

Much, it is true, very much remains to be done; Satan will not relinquish his dominion without a desperate struggle; but the heathen have been given to Christ for his inheritance, and who will come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty? Notwithstanding the difficulties of the work, the prospect of great and glorious success was never more cheering. Light is diffused; old superstitions are beginning to give way; caste is losing somewhat of its hold upon the people; and what is now needed most of all, is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that the word of God may have free course and be glorified. Who that loves the cause of Christ will not plead earnestly that this blessing may be poured out, until there shall not be room enough to receive it!

PROGRESS IN THE MAHRATTA FIELD.

CHEERING statements were published in the Herald for February last, in regard to the position taken by the native "Evangelical Union," in the Mahratta mission field, at its late annual meeting, respecting the duty of native churches to support their own institutions; the intimations thrown out by some of the speakers that the mission had afforded too much assistance, or at least had already continued it too long carrying the children after they were able to walk; the calling of pastors by seven of the native churches; and arrangements which had been made for the ordination services. Letters have now been received from several of the missionaries, giving fuller accounts of the meeting of the Union; reporting the ordinations, and the progress of the self-supporting movement; and furnishing some of the addresses by natives, at the meeting