large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_07_mitchell_64kb_53
large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_07_mitchell_64kb
English
12430
This was, at least, symbolism run wild; and every one, except those who were prepared to follow their leader to all lengths, saw that in a land like India, wedded to idolatry, it was fearfully perilous. THIS WAS AT LEAST SYMBOLISM RUN WILD AND EVERYONE EXCEPT THOSE WHO WERE PREPARED TO FOLLOW THEIR LEADER TO ALL LENDS SAW THAT IN A LAND LIKE INDIA WHETTED TO IDOLATRY IT WAS FEARFULLY PERILOUS
 why, in later days, he insisted so much on the "motherhood of God." Perhaps it was a repetition--he probably would have called it an exaltation--of the old Hindu idea, prevalent especially among the worshipers of Siva, that there is a female counterpart--a Sakti--of every divinity. Or, possibly, it may have been to conciliate the worshipers of Durga and Kali, those great goddesses of Bengal. [Sidenote: Public proclamation said to be from God.] A public proclamation was soon issued, purporting to be from God himself, as India's mother. The whole thing was very startling; many, even of Keshub's friends, declared it blasphemous. Next, in the "Flag Ceremony," the flag or banner of the New Dispensation received a homage scarcely distinguishable from worship. Then--as if in strict imitation of the ancient adoration of Agni, or Fire--a pile of wood was lighted, clarified butter poured on it, and prayers addressed to it, ending thus--"O, brilliant Fire! in thee we behold our resplendent Lord.  OF MAN THOUGH THESE GREAT CONCEPTIONS ARE NOT OF HINDU ORIGIN IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHY IN LATER DAYS HE INSISTED SO MUCH ON THE MOTHERHOOD OF GOD PERHAPS IT WAS A REPUTATION HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CALLED IT AN EXALTATION OF THE OLD HINDU IDEA PREVALENT ESPECIALLY AMONG THE WORSHIPPERS OF SHIVA THAT THERE IS A FEMALE CONTEPART A SHAFTI OF EVERY DIVINITY OR POSSIBLY IT MAY HAVE BEEN TO CONCILIATE THE WORSHIPPERS OF DURGA AND KAHLI THOSE GREAT GODDESSES OF BENGAL A PUBLIC PROCLAMATION WAS SOON ISSUED PURPORTING TO BE FROM GOD HIMSELF AS INDIA'S MOTHER THE WHOLE THING WAS VERY STARTLING MANY EVEN OF CAYISHOP'S FRIENDS DECLARED IT BLASPHEMERS NEXT IN THE FLAT CEREMONY THE FLAG OR BANNER OF THE NEW DISPENSATION RECEIVED A HOME MATE SCARCELY DISTINGUISHABLE FROM WORSHIP THEN AS IF IN STRICT IMITATION OF THE ANCIENT ADORATION OF UGNEY OR FIRE A PILE OF WOOD WAS LIGHTED CLARIFIED BUTTER POURED ON IT AND PRAYERS ADDRESS TO IT AND DINTHUS O BRILLIANT FIRE IN THEE WE BEHOLD OUR RESPLENDENT LORD
large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_07_mitchell_64kb
file
download/librilight/large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_07_mitchell_64kb.flac