Deified Men and Women

All the bramhuns, but especially the religious guides, (gooroo,) are objects of worship among the Hindoos, and have divine honours paid to them. The spiritual guide, in the estimation of the disciple, is literally a god. When-ever he approaches, the disciple prostrates himself in the dust before him, and never sits in his presence without leave. He drinks the water with which he has washed the feet of his gooroo, and relies entirely upon his blessing for final happiness. I have heard some Hindoos speak with comparative contempt of all other ways of salvation. When the claims of the bramhŭns to deity have been disputed by any one, I have seen the poor besotted shōōdrŭ prostrate himself at the feet of the nearest bramhŭn, and, raising his head, and closing his hands, say, ‘You are my god.’ At the same time the character of the bramhŭn has perhaps been notorious for every vice.

The shastrŭs declare that the daughters of bramhŭns, till they are eight years old, are objects of worship, as forms of the goddess Bhŭgŭvŭtēē; and some persons worship these girls daily. The worshipper, taking the daughter of some neighbouring bramhŭn, and placing her on a seat, performs the ceremonies of worship; in which he presents to her flowers, paint, water, garlands, incense, and, if a rich man, offerings of cloth and ornaments.