Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Seite 638

HOOK-SWINGING AND FIRE ORDEALS
508
India.
At many of the temples consecrated to this cruel
goddess there is a sort of gibbet erected opposite the door.
At the extremity of the crosspiece, or arm, a pulley is
suspended, through which a cord passes with a hook at the
end.
The man who has made a vow to undergo this cruel
penance places himself under the gibbet, and a priest then
heats the fleshy part of the back until it is quite benumbed.
After that the hook is fixed into the flesh thus prepared,
and in this way the unhappy wretch is raised in the air.
While suspended he is careful not to show any sign of
pain indeed he continues to laugh, jest, and gesticulate like
a buffoon in order to amuse the spectators, who applaud
and shout with laughter. After swinging in the air for the
prescribed time the victim is let down again, and, as soon
as his wounds are dressed, he returns home in triumph 1
Some votaries, again, are to be met with who make
a vow to walk with bare feet on burning coals.
For this
purpose they kindle a large pile of wood and when the
flames are extinguished and all the wood consumed, they
place the glowing embers in a space about twenty feet in
length.
The victim stands at one extremity with his feet
in a puddle expressly prepared for the purpose, takes
a spring, and runs quickly over the burning embers till he
reaches another puddle on the other side. In spite of these
precautions very few, as one can imagine, escape from the
ordeal with their feet uninjured.
Others, whose weak limbs
do not permit of their running over the hot embers, cover
the upper part of the body with a wet cloth, and holding
a chafing-dish rilled with burning coals, pour the contents
over their heads. This feat of devotion is called the Fire-
;
.
;
bath.
Another kind
of torture consists in piercing
both cheeks
and passing a wire of silver or some other metal through
the two jaws between the teeth. Thus bridled, the mouth
cannot be opened without acute pain. Many fanatics have
been known to travel a distance of twenty miles with their
Hook-swinging,' as this is called, is still practised in the Madura
Though the magistracy have orders to do all they
can to prevent it, by dissuading men from offering themselves as victims,
still, as it is not under ordinary circumstances a criminal offence, it
cannot be prevented by legal process. Ed.
1
'
district (Madras).